Boy racers beware – Sussex Police have a new member on the force: a 140mph supercharged Lotus Exige.

But don’t expect to see it careering around your estate – Sussex Police are showcasing the lightweight Lotus at events to get keen young drivers to talk to them.

The police-liveried Lotus Exige – capable of topping 140mph and accelerating from 0-60mph in just 4.1 seconds – is touring Sussex to attract young drivers so police can drive home the dangers of reckless driving.

“We get calls about it every weekend, but when we turn up they usually speed off in the opposite direction as soon as they see us. It means we can never engage directly with these young people, and tell them about the dangers they’re causing.

“When we pull up in this Lotus, however, it’s usually them that are approaching us to have a look at the car!”

The forums are messy anyway.