A RETIRED Catholic priest who caused mayhem at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone by running onto the racetrack was arrested seconds before he did the same thing at the Derby race meeting.

Father Neil Horan, formerly a priest at St John Fisher Church in Thanet Road, Bexley Village, ran out in front of Formula One cars travelling at 180mph on July 20 last year. He performed a peace dance on the track but officials halted the race and he was arrested for aggravated trespassing.

At the June 5 Epsom Derby Day races the 57-year-old was spotted by police and tackled moments before they believed he was about to run out in front of the horses.

A Surrey police spokesman said: "The officer's actions may have averted what could have been a tragedy. If he had run into the crowded field of horses he could have been seriously injured and jockeys and horses may have been hurt as well."

In a statement police confirmed a 57-year-old man was arrested by officers at the Derby meeting on suspicion of intention to cause a breach of the peace. He was later released without charge.

Born in Ireland in 1947, Mr Horan was Bexley parish priest from 1973 to 1975.

Police have circulated his details to other forces amid fears he may attempt to sabotage other major events.

Mr Horan, from Nunhead, models himself as a peace dancer and says he has devoted his life to making the Bible, especially the prophecies, better known.

Although still technically a priest, Mr Horan's permission to preach, say mass and administer the other sacraments were formally withdrawn in writing in April 2002 by the Roman Catholic Church.