A couple have been told they will get no compensation for injuries and a written-off car after being hit by an "under-age and uninsured" driver.

Pensioner John Russell, 70, and his wife Shirley-Ann, 66, of Hoddern Avenue, Peacehaven, had been out to get some fish and chips when the accident happened.

Mr Russell was driving his wife's Toyota Carina along Arundel Road West, Peacehaven, when a black Renault Laguna pulled out of Malines Road after failing to stop at a give way sign.

Mr Russell said: "I couldn't avoid him, he just shot straight in front of us."

The couple both suffered shock and Mrs Russell received neck injuries in the crash in October last year.

She was taken to hospital and underwent months of physiotherapy and is still taking painkillers.

Witnesses say the Renault was being driven by a 16-year-old who was allegedly working as a delivery boy for a takeaway.

The young driver allegedly drove off after the accident but the couple managed to get his licence plate and there were a number of witnesses.

Mr Russell said: "He was delivering kebabs at the time and he just shot off up the road.

"He stopped at a house further up and made his delivery, the people in the house saw everything, and he was in such a hurry he even ran off without the money."

Mr Russell said they reported the accident to the police and a few days later a youth was arrested, driving the same car, with the near-side wing crushed from the accident.

Sergeant Kevin Donovan from Sussex Police said they interviewed the 16-year-old who denied driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. He said witness descriptions of the suspect differed considerably and police could not prove that he was the driver.

He was cautioned for driving without a licence and released.

Mr Russell said: "We feel we have got no justice.

"The car belonged to the kebab shop owner but he was out of the country and told police he did not know who was driving the car.

"His insurance company said they are not even insured for business use."

The couple are now pursuing a private prosecution.

Mr Russell said: "My wife has been frightened to get in the car - it has really affected us.

"The car wasn't worth a lot but the insurance company has written it off and the boy wasn't insured so we have not been able to get anything back."