Boy, 12, stopped 14 hours into drive across Australia

© Other Broken Hill, Australia

Police in Australia have stopped a 12-year-old boy attempting to drive across the country - 14 hours into his epic journey.

The young boy was stopped and picked up in the mining city of Broken Hill, more than 1,000km (621 miles) from his starting point.

Though he had apparently driven across the entire state of New South Wales on his own.

"Checks revealed the driver to be a 12-year-old boy (who) was travelling from Kendall NSW on his way to Perth," said state police.

A police spokesperson said he was stopped after officers spotted the bumper dragging along the ground.

"Officers from Broken Hill Highway Patrol stopped a motor vehicle on the Barrier Highway due to defects which made the vehicle hazardous," said the police statement.

Investigation into the case is on going, police added.