A car vandal had the shock of his life when he was chased by a policeman wearing nothing but his underpants.

Sergeant Glenn Taylor was asleep in bed when the vandal ripped off wing mirrors and kicked panels on nine cars outside his home in Hove.

Sgt Taylor, 30, said: "I heard noises and jumped out of bed to investigate.

"I saw the vandal on the street and decided there was no time to lose."

Wearing just his underpants, Sgt Taylor ran 200 yards in his bare feet and caught up with the offender.

Mr Taylor said: "He fell over and I grabbed him. I told him: 'I don't suppose you've ever been nicked before by a policeman in underpants'.

"He was a little surprised but he got the message."

Mr Taylor, 6ft 3in and based in Brighton, has served for nine years and has received two merit certificates from Sussex Police.

He does not expect to be honoured for his latest arrest, saying: "I was just glad no one else was around at the time to see."