A teenage joyrider allegedly borrowed his parents' car and took Kingston police on a fast and furious car chase before smashing into a taxi.

A black Mercedes was spotted speeding through Kingston at around 3.30am on Sunday.

Officers tried to stop the driver in Wheatfield Way by Kingston College Roundabout.

The passengers got out but the Mercedes sped off into Portsmouth Road before he was seen again later coming back into town from Penrhyn Road.

Sergeant Jim Dicks said: "He had done a complete circle of the town while being pursued.

"I don’t think the driver knew where he was going - he just went round the town centre in circles."

The chase lasted about five minutes before the driver came out of Eden Street, turned the wrong way around the one-way system and crashed into a traffic island outside Travelodge.

Before officers were able to stop the car, in trying to get away, the driver reversed into a taxi at speed leaving the driver with minor whiplash.

Sgt Dicks said: "There were about four or five police cars involved so officers boxed him in.

"The windows got smashed and an officer dived into the car to put the handbrake up to stop him.

"I have not seen anything like this in Kingston for a long time."

On Twitter Trucy Bruins-Lich tweeted: "We were in the firing line of that drunk driver & witnessed some amazing bravery from your officers. Well done!"

A 16-year-old boy from Kensington was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking without consent, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failing to stop for police.

The teenager was bailed to report back to a police station in December.