Young drivers banned for 'car surfing'

A boy of 17 and a man have been banned from driving after being fimed taking part in the dangerous game of "car surfing".

CCTV footage released by Sussex police shows the pair racing in circles around a car park while friends lie on the roof of their cars, clinging on by their fingertips.

The incident was captured on film in darkness in a car park in North Street, Midhurst, West Sussex, on September 5 last year.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on January 7 at Chichester Magistrates' Court. He was sentenced on the same day to a year-long ban from driving and ordered to take an extended re-test. He was also given a 12-week curfew order.

Kieron Burgess, 21, from Common View, Stedham, also admitted dangerous driving on December 6 at the same court. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months, ordered to take a re-test and handed a 120-hour community order by JPs.

Inspector Phil Nicholas of Sussex Police, said: "Thankfully, no one was injured during this stupid behaviour, but it could have ended very differently. The boy had only passed his driving test two months earlier."

He added: "I would urge anyone who may be pressured by friends to take part in car surfing to think about the consequences. You could end up in jail or with serious injuries, or worse."