Businessman Darren Bosi was the victim of a highway robbery when he saw his £20,000 sports car pull up in front of him - seconds after it had been stolen.

Mr Bosi, who runs a hairdressing salon in Benton, Newcastle, was returning to a city centre car park after realising he had dropped the keys to his silver Porsche Boxster.

But as he approached the car park Mr Bosi saw the 159mph convertible being driven off.

He gave chase on foot as the car sped down John Dobson Street.

Mr Bosi caught up with it at traffic lights and tried to stop the thief, but the car sped off again, narrowly missing a woman pedestrian.

Two plain-clothed police officers in an unmarked car saw the incident and after a short chase, they managed to catch the thief.

Mr Bosi, of Ochre Yards, Gateshead said: "I opened the door and tried to pull the lad out, but he drove away.

"I was running after the car when the police saw me.

"They were going the other way so did a U-turn, picked me up and we went after him.

"They pulled in front of him in bus lane and got out of the car. It was all over in less than five minutes."

Traffic at the New Bridge Street and Central Motorway junction was delayed for about 20 minutes as the teenager was arrested and taken away for questioning.