A teenager has been charged with speeding away from police without a licence or insurance in a chase through Ilford town centre on Monday.

Andrius Songaila, 19, of Knotts Green Road, Leyton, E10 will appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on November 4 to face the charges.

The Metropolitan Police’s helicopter joined cars and vans in the pursuit around 9am, when four suspects left their vehicle but were caught by Redbridge officers.

A police spokesman said the men had been followed by police from Lansdowne Road in Seven Kings and the pursuit started when they failed to stop for officers.

They were chased into Ilford and tried to run from the car near the train station, in Cranbrook Road.

Two men and a youth were arrested after the chase but released with no further charge.