Brake failure ‘results in high-speed car chase’

Police were forced to chase a car through northern France after its brakes failed and the driver was left travelling at 125mph.

Frank Lecerf popped out to visit his local shops but was plunged into chaos when the speed dial of his Renault Laguna jammed at 60mph.

Any pressure he put on the brakes in a bid to slow down resulted in the car moving faster, soon reaching its top speed.

Mr Lecerf was able to alert the emergency services and they cleared the road ahead of him and had toll booth barriers raised.

He later admitted to Le Courrier Picard that his "life flashed before his eyes" and that he had "just wanted it to stop".

The high-speed chase along the motorway only came to an end after some time when the car ran out of petrol and crashed into a ditch, with Mr Lecerf thankfully escaping from the incident unhurt.