Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland has started a 48-day jail sentence today for drink-driving in Los Angeles.

The star of hit drama 24, was pulled over by California police in September and arrested.

Sutherland was still on probation for a similar offence committed in 2004 at the time, and was sentenced to the jail time along with five year's probation.

Police released a mugshot of the 40-year-old who will serve out his full term behind bars, rather than two separate stints which had been previously planned in order to prevent the disruption of 24's production schedule.

Fox, the show's network, announced it was suspending work on the series due to the screenwriters' strike, so there was no longer any need for Sutherland to break up his jail term into two parts.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stuart Rice has given the actor until March 30 to carry out his sentence but Sutherland decided to turn himself in on Wednesday evening.

The Emmy award-winning actor was also was also fined £250 and ordered to enrol in an 18-month alcohol education treatment program and to attend six months of weekly alcohol counselling sessions, according to Assistant City Attorney Dan Jeffries.