A brave mechanic jumped into his car and bravely gave chase for 15 miles after a car was stolen in front of him.

The man watched as a thief pounced on a Ford Focus in Burgess Hill and raced off towards Brighton and Hove.

But rather than panicking he simply jumped in his own car and pursued the crook through the Sussex countryside at high speed - as a colleague radioed police for back-up.

The chase started at Fairplace Garage in London Road at 11.40am yesterday when the dark blue Ford Focus, which was about to be repaired, was driven off.

The mechanic hastily jumped into his racing green VW Golf and screeched off after the fleeing criminal.

While on the tail of the car thief the quick-witted mechanic used his hands-free mobile phone to call back to the garage where Allwright Tyres owner John Wright was speaking to the police.

John Wright, 55, the owner of Allwright Tyres which is based at the garage, said: "The car was parked outside the garage and while I was talking to the mechanic a guy had jumped in the car and driven off at speed.

"I said to him, 'Someone's just nicked that car'. The mechanic then jumped into his car and gave chase."

Mr Wright, who is chairman of a neighbourhood watch group, added: "It was like something out of the TV programme Police 5. It was brilliant.

"I was on the phone to the police to let them know where they were going. He was on his hands-free to me throughout the chase. I was like the control centre between him and the police."

Officers were alerted soon after the 35-minute chase began and initially had a car patrolling Burgess Hill but as soon as it became evident the vehicles were heading down the A23 towards the A27, specialist drivers were alerted to give chase as well as the police helicopter to oversee the pursuit.

As the offender raced past Hollingbury and the University of Sussex the mechanic decided to slow down as the stolen 1.4 litre car, despite only having half an exhaust, reached speeds of almost 100 mph.

The thief slowed down as he approached a roundabout near Lewes due to traffic - noticing the police cars about to head out in front of him but not realising they were after him.

When the penny dropped he put his foot to the floor and tyre marks on the road as he made another getaway.

But the police patrols had already out-thought him and blocked the road off with their vehicles to bring the car to a halt.

A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene and was last night being questioned on suspicion of the theft of the Ford Focus.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We would always advise people not to pursue any vehicle and stay within the speed limit.

"We cannot condone people setting off in pursuit of other cars and members of the public should not get involved."