CHILDREN playing in a Burnley alleyway had to leap to safety as a police car pursued a teenage motorist.

Burnley magistrates heard how student Esrar Jabar, 19, then hit a house before running off, chased by officers.

The defendant, who is due to start Manchester Metropolitan University next year, admitted dangerous driving, not having insurance and having no MOT.

The bench bailed Jabar, of Hebrew Road, Burnley, until September 17, and told him they were looking at a community-based penalty. He was given an interim ban.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said police turned round and followed the defendant as he passed them on Abel Street and a brief chase through the streets began.

Some children had to leap out of the way to avoid being hit, Jabar turned into other streets without indicating and made no attempt to stop at give way junctions.

The prosecutor said as the police drew nearer, both front doors of the defendant's car opened while it was moving and it went onto the pavement and hit a house.

The driver got out of the vehicle as it was still travelling and ran off. He was detained after a short chase.

Jabar told police he had driven off because he was not insured. He said he did not see the children.

Julian Peers, defending, said the full ramifications of what Jabar had done had not really hit him until he attended court. The consequences of committing this type of offences were very serious.

He was terrified about what was going to happen to him. The defendant had recently finished at Burnley College and had saved up £150 after working at his father's general store in the summer holidays.