CAR mad Christopher Cattermole loved driving his dad’s Vauxhall Cresta — although he was only two!

In 1966, he twice climbed behind the wheel and drove off — on the second occasion on to a busy main road.

Christopher took his chance after his dad, saw miller Daniel Cattermole, of Taylor Street, Clitheroe, and left him in the passenger street, to go into a shop in Eastern Avenue, Burnley.

The toddler promptly moved into the driving seat, let off the brake and the car began to move down the hill.

Gathering momentum, Christopher steered round a corner, just missed a lamp post and mounted the grass verge before crashing into iron railings.

He was unharmed and just smiled sweetly as a crowd, and then the police, gathered round the damaged car.

Officers were ready to book Mr Cattermole for leaving his car on a hill with the brake off and were sceptical when dad explained it was his young son who was to blame.

It wasn’t until Mr Cattermole asked them to watch as Christopher carried out his party trick all over again that they were convinced and put their books away.

Mr Cattermole said: “Christopher always travels beside me wherever I go, so he knows how to make the car move — but he’s going to be sitting at home from now on!

“Several months ago I was working at the back of my van when he climbed into the driving seat, let off the brake and drove the car backwards. He nearly killed me that time!”