A driver was arrested in connection with a £9,000 fraud investigation during a "costly trip" from London to Brighton.

The car was stopped by Sussex Police's specialist enforcement unit earlier this week as they worked to track down the wanted man behind the wheel.

Several passengers were also fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions during the late night incident.

A force spokesman said: "It was a costly trip to the city for a London driver and his passengers whose vehicle was stopped by our specialist enforcement unit in Brighton.

"He was wanted and arrested for a £9k fraud investigation, and they (the passengers) were fined for making a non-essential journey under Covid rules."

Current government lockdown rules state: "You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a ‘reasonable excuse’. This is the law.

"The police can take action against you if you leave home without a ‘reasonable excuse’, and issue you with a fine.

"You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400."

Reasonable excuses include work, volunteering, essential activities such as food shopping, education and childcare, care, exercise, medical reasons, maternity, or escaping risk of harm.