A ten-year-old boy has been banned from driving for a second time after he took his father's car out for a joyride.

The boy, who cannot be named, appeared at Hastings youth court charged with five motoring offences. He is thought to be Britain's youngest ever joyrider.

At the same court a week ago he admitted taking his father's car, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The boy's father reported him to the police after seeing him take his Vauxhall Cavalier on June 1.

The boy was stopped near his home in Ore, near Hastings.

He was sentenced for the offences and for two other offences to which he admitted, namely stealing a car on May 24 and stealing a pedal cycle on May 19.

The 4ft 5in tall boy was disqualified from driving following a motoring offence in December last year.

Magistrates sentenced him to an 18-month supervision order and banned him from driving for a further two years.

Chief Inspector Ken Taylor, the district police commander, said: "This was an issue not just about the boy's safety but that of the public as well.

"Driving a car is not a game and even trained drivers can make mistakes."