Road safety charities have voiced “extreme concern” after it emerged that nearly 200 youngsters in West Yorkshire have been banned from driving before they are even old enough to hold a full licence.

A Freedom of Information request by the Telegraph & Argus to the DVLA revealed that 189 people aged 16 or under have been disqualified from driving across the county since 2014.

Two of them were just 13 years old, eighteen were 14 years old, 64 were aged 15 at the time they were banned from driving and 105 were aged 16.

Concerns over underage driving were heightened earlier this week when two school boys were charged with various offences after a police pursuit early on Monday morning.

A 13-year-old was charged with dangerous driving, burglary and driving while disqualified after an alleged 100mph police chase through Bingley.

Another teen, aged 16, was charged with ‘twoccing’ (taking without the owner’s consent) and theft.

But the newly-released figures show it is not uncommon for police to find children behind the wheel.

The longest ban handed out to a child was seven years and three months, which was handed down from the courts to a 15-year-old.

The number of bans for children aged between 13 and 17 are rising, too.

In 2014, 42 children were disqualified, followed by 90 in 2015, 108 in 2016 and 110 last year.

Thirty four youngsters had already been disqualified in the first four months of this year.

People can only apply for a Provisional Licence when they turn 17 and must pass a theory and practical test before they are allowed to drive solo.

Jack Kushner, spokesman for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “It is hugely concerning to see so many teenagers with driving bans in West Yorkshire.

“Untrained and unlicensed under-age drivers pose a significant risk and have no right to be on the road.

“We’d like to see roads policing given a greater priority by this government, so that more officers can be on the lookout for under-age drivers and act as a visible deterrent to those who plan to do so.

“Drivers aged between 17 to 24 years-old are involved in a fifth of all road deaths and yet make up less than a fourteenth of the total driving population.

“We urge the Government to introduce a Graduated Driver Licensing system in the whole of the UK as a matter of priority.”

Another worrying incident revealed by police in April saw a 16-year-old disqualified driver arrested after a short pursuit.

Police were on patrol in the Dale Lane area of Heckmondwike when they saw a car parked at the side of the road with two occupants.

As the officers passed the vehicle, it sped away, leading to a chase.

Nick Lloyd, RoSPA road safety manager, said: “RoSPA is extremely concerned at the number of underage drivers in West Yorkshire, as they are putting themselves, their passengers and other innocent road users in danger.

“The younger the driver and less experienced they are the more likely they are to crash; this situation is compounded with drivers who have not undergone structured on road training with an instructor.

“They are also likely not to have both the maturity and responsible attitude when driving illegally.”

Chief Inspector Chris Corkindale, West Yorkshire Police Head of Roads Policing, said: “Within context of the volume of drivers on the roads in West Yorkshire, there are low numbers engaged in this type of activity but the public are still concerned that some people feel it is acceptable to behave in this way.

“Some young people need to be aware that by committing such offences they are significantly damaging their driving record before they have even started and potentially affecting future employment prospects and certainly insurance costs.

“Currently one issue which has come to the fore is the use of mobile phones amongst young people who need to thoroughly understand the law in this area.”