THE world's most expensive and fastest street-legal car, worth £840,000, may have to written off after a 100mph crash.

An eight-litre Bugatti Veyron - thought to be one of only about 12 in Britain and which has a top speed in excess of 250mph - went out of control and collided with a Vauxhall Astra before crashing into trees on a roadside bank.

It happened in heavy rain on Sunday on a 40mph section of road near Chertsey, Surrey.

The hand-crafted Veyron's front was severely damaged and insurers are deciding if it is repairable or whether it will be a contender for the most costly write-off in history.

The 1000 horsepower Bugatti - which can do 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds - is owned by a businessman in his 40s who runs a car hire and management company with his brothers. It is claimed the car was rented to the driver for £20,000 a day.

Police said the Bugatti's male driver, who was with a younger male passenger, was reported by officers for driving without due care and attention.

Nick Lancaster, chief executive of dealer HR Owen, which sold the car, said: "It is the first Veyron I have heard of being damaged."