A teenage joyrider left a trail of destruction behind him when he went on an hour-long, high-speed police car chase through narrow country lanes.

Dozens of officers and a police helicopter were scrambled but the youth refused to stop, hitting three police cars and reaching speeds of up to 70mph.

The driver, believed to be 14 years old, raced along 50 miles of twisting lanes and dual carriageway in a stolen taxi before eventually being forced into a field.

The chase is thought to be one of the longest in Sussex Police's history.

Sergeant David Price, of Polegate road policing department, said: "Three police vehicles were damaged as well as a number of gates and a quantity of crops. No injuries were caused to any person.

"One police vehicle was sideswiped by the taxi. It was parked and, as the offender drove past, he glanced off the side of the car and it was severely damaged.

"One car was rammed from behind by the offender and the other stopped him but sustained damage where it came into contact. During the chase, the taxi was extensively damaged."

The teenager stole the luxury £40,000 Mercedes Veto people carrier as the driver refuelled at a petrol station on the A23 at Hickstead and sped off down the dual carriageway in the early hours of Saturday.

The taxi driver, from Havant, Hampshire, leapt into a colleague's car and called the police on his mobile as they followed the stolen vehicle.

Police drivers followed the taxi along the A23 but the teenager avoided capture for more than an hour.

They reached speeds of 70mph down narrow rural lanes around Horsham, Steyning and Billingshurst before the driver was finally stopped south of Amberley.

It is believed he may have deliberately rammed one police car at Adversane railway crossing.

Sergeant Price said: "The driver failed to stop and the vehicle was followed through the roads of Sussex for approximately one hour.

"The person seemed to have an intimate knowledge of the west side of the county.

"The Sussex Police helicopter was deployed as well as a number of other Sussex Police vehicles.

"The stolen vehicle was eventually driven into a field in the Downs, south of Amberley, where it was stopped by road police units using approved methods.

"I am very pleased at the successful outcome of this incident. At all times my officers maintained a very calm and controlled commentary and I am entirely satisfied they acted within their limits."

It is believed the taxi and one of the police cars are write-offs while the two other police cars were badly damaged.

The taxi driver, who did not want to be named, said: "I feel sick to the stomach about what has happened.

"I'm glad no one was injured."

A youth has been arrested and is being held by police for questioning.