A 100-year-old Japanese man has been arrested after his car hit an umbrella held by a child – but insisted he needs to stay on the road to stop himself going senile.

Masaru Hori told police: “Driving helps me from going senile because it keeps me alert.

He has been arrested several times for driving offences in recent months.

He has now been accused of driving without a licence since it was revoked after a hit-and-run accident in August, police said.

He was also involved in a similar accident last month, they added.

Hori was arrested on Friday after a policeman saw him hit an umbrella that a seven-year-old child on the street was holding. The child was unhurt.

Police told the man’s family to get rid of the car, media said, and Hori swore his days of illegal driving were over.

“I’ll never drive without a licence again,” he promised.

Starting in 2009, drivers over age 75 in Japan will be required to get checkups for dementia when they renew their licences.