A GROUP of teenage joyriders stole a car and drove it around a residential area before dumping the vehicle by a railway station.

They were tracked by a police helicopter after reports of the stolen silver Renault speeding around Hollingbury and Patcham this afternoon.

A police spokesman said: "Police, assisted by the NPAS police helicopter, responded to reports of a silver Renault Clio driving dangerously in the Moulsecoomb area around 2.36pm on Wednesday, January 30.

"The vehicle, which was reported stolen from Stanmer on Tuesday, January, has since been discovered unattended close to Moulescoomb Railway Station and has been recovered.

"Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 184 of 30/01."

Witnesses claim the driver and passengers were wearing Patcham High School uniforms but this has not been confirmed.

One resident warned about the behaviour on social media.

The posting said: "Please be aware there is a group of young kids driving around Patcham and Hollingbury extremely dangerously in a silver Renault.

"I didn’t manage to get the number plate but when I pulled up beside them in Ladies Mile Road they were all in Patcham School uniform and swore at me.

"If anyone manages to get the number plate please contact the police before they, or someone else, get seriously hurt."

Other residents commented saying they had also seen the stolen car.

One said: "I saw them at the crossroads of Ladies Mile Road and they were just pulling out in front of everyone."

Another added: "They wheel-spinned like lunatics up the road. It's so dangerous, what idiots."