Teens From Deprived London Area Hire Expensive Supercars for Prom [Photos & Video]

Teenagers in one of Britain’s poorest boroughs are hiring expensive supercars to help celebrate the end of their school days.

Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Bentleys are being rented by 16-year-olds in Tower Hamlets, East London, for their National Record of Achievement (NRA) ceremony, a prom-like event that marks the end of compulsory schooling.

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These Lamborghinis, Ferraris and even Bentleys on the gritty streets of East London, would cost more to buy than homes in the area.

'When every NRA comes you just feel excited for the kids,' said Ibrahim Hussain who went through the rite of passage last year and works part-time at his brother's car-hire business, which rents out vehicles for the ceremonies.

Tower Hamlets is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in Britain, and the majority of pupils taking part are of Bangladeshi origin.

Abdul Hasnath, a senior youth worker with the Osmani Trust youth and community organisation, said the prom-like celebrations probably caught on 14 or 15 years ago, with pupils hiring limousines, but have gotten more lavish and expensive since.

The students, who at 16 are too young to drive, were chauffeured through the neighbour-hood either by drivers connected with car hire companies or by friends or relatives.

Many of those in the more expensive rides switch later to 'after-cars' - saloons or larger vehicles - which they can travel in together, often getting involved in road races. Videos of the day, set to pounding hip-hop and R&B soundtracks, are posted on YouTube. Watch under: