Jonny Doyle brought back an unusual souvenir of his travels to South-East Asia.

The entrepreneur shipped home a vehicle he hopes will become part of Sussex culture and even spread throughout Britain.

Jonny, 32, from Hove, has become the sole UK distributor of Thai tuk-tuks after his machine arrived in July to become the first registered for use on British roads.

The machine was so unusual it took the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) two months to decide how to classify it.

Tuk-tuks - like a motorbike with a roof and rear seats - are more commonly seen jostling for space on Bangkok's congested streets.

Some of the machines, which are named after the noise they make, are customised and the seating area replaced by a refrigeration unit for deliveries.

Jonny said: "I fell in love with tuk-tuks when I first visited Thailand when I was 19. When I went back this time I thought it was an ideal souvenir to bring back.

"When I told my family there was a raised eyebrow and a big grin, but they thought it was typical of me."

The machines, which are traditionally red, yellow and blue with lots of chrome, are pulled by a 50cc Daihatsu engine.

They have been hand-made by a team of up to 25 people by a family-run business in Bangkok, which has been going for 35 years.

The DVLA finally classified Jonny's tuk-tuk as a tricycle, which means it costs the same to tax as a motorcycle and can be parked in motorcycle bays.

The machine can be driven legally on a car licence, but motorcyclists without a car licence can only ride it if they remove the reverse gear.

Jonny took his tuk-tuk out for its first spin in Brighton in October.

He said: "I took pictures of it at the pier and the Royal Pavilion and everyone wanted to ask questions about it and if they could buy it or ride it."

Jonny plans to import more of the machines, which cost £4,500 on the road, and also hopes to offer the tuk-tuks' services for promotional work.

He hopes Brighton and Hove Council might use the machines to offer people rides along the seafront.