A DRIVER escaped injury after a car smashed into the central barrier of the Christchurch bypass.

Police were called at 4.50am after the Audi A3 crashed on the A35 between the Burton Bridge and Stony Lane roundabouts.

The road was closed while the vehicle was recovered and the carriageway cleared of debris.

A police spokesman said that the car, which was registered to a Christchurch keeper, was badly damaged, but no injuries were sustained.

The spokesman added that the driver provided a negative breath test.

The barrier also sustained slight damage.

The road reopened at 7.19am.