TWO elderly women were rescued by firefighters after their car overturned on Penn Hill Avenue.

The pair, who were uninjured, were trapped as the red Mazda ended up on its side and its electrics failed after the incident at around 2.37pm.

Fire crews had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to remove the doors and roof, and after being examined by paramedics the driver and passenger were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Poole traffic officer PC Andy Steele said: “This was a low speed single vehicle incident. The cause is unknown but the car appears to have rolled off the railings onto its side.

“The two ladies inside were physically trapped but not medically trapped and were rescued by the fire service. We don't believe they were injured.”

Witness Jack Webster, from Branksome, saw the crash from a nearby fish and chip shop. He said bystanders ran up to the vehicle to check if the occupants were ok, and that the emergency services were on the scene within minutes.

Local resident Malcolm Craig, who joined a number of on-lookers at the scene after hearing the commotion, said: “We don't get many crashes up this end of the road, they are usually down by the junction, there was a terrific motorbike crash down there about a year ago, fortunately no one was hurt.

“But we don't normally get anything as dramatic as this.”

The incident was attended by two fire engines, two ambulances and paramedic vehicles as well as police.

The road was closed between King's Avenue and Canford Cliffs Road while the road was cleared.

Witnesses should contact Dorset Police with information on 101.