POLICE closed part of the A35 Christchurch by-pass this morning after a car went into a ditch.

The call was made at 4.50am with reports of the incident in the eastbound direction of the busy main road a short distance away from Sainsbury’s, between Stony Lane and Watery Lane. As a result, officers closed off one lane while they responded to the incident.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said that 28-year-old driver of the silver Mercedes was reported to be conscious and breathing and had sustained minor injuries. He was taken to Poole Hospital to be checked over.

The road was then fully re-opened and the vehicle was recovered from the scene.