A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of a string of driving offences after a car sped through Poole Park yesterday afternoon.

People enjoying the park had a shock when a car screamed through the usually-tranquil setting before crashing into a roundabout. A silver Vauxhall Vectra reportedly driven by a lone male was seen skidding to avoid other cars at around 5.45pm.

Police said that the car was involved in a number of fail-to-stop collisions in West Street, Crest Road and Mansfield Road earlier on, with police first being notified at around 4.30pm, before it was seen in the park.

A spokesman said that the car collided with another vehicle on Seldown Bridge before hitting a traffic island on the Newfoundland Roundabout.

The driver, a 24-year-old man from Poole, was detained by an off-duty police officer and a member of the public.

He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving and being drunk in charge of a vehicle.

Nobody was injured during the drama.

Witness David Finnemore, from Poole, said that once out of the park, the car sped over Seldown Bridge, colliding with at least one car travelling in the opposite direction, before crashing into the centre of the roundabout at the junction of Furnell Road.

It is thought that the driver ran off as police rushed to the scene. David said: “It was skidding around with people coming the other way. There were squealing tyres and burning rubber. He ran off on foot and there were a lot of people standing around watching.”

Any witnesses should call police on 101, quoting reference number 19:384.