A DRIVER was rushed to hospital with “very serious injuries” after his car hit an embankment and ploughed into a lamppost on one of Poole’s busiest roads this morning.

The accident, that happened around 5am between Fleetsbridge and the Canford Heath turnoff on the A35, left the highway closed throughout the morning rush hour.

Police say the Poole man, who received on-the-spot treatment by paramedics, was the only casualty.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service crews, from nearby Poole fire station, used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the trapped driver.

He was rushed to Poole Hospital where emergency medics were standing by.

The ensuing road closure, implemented so workers could clear the scene and police crash investigators could establish what caused the black Ford Puma to swerve off the road, remained in place for several hours.

A section of the eastbound road was closed and traffic, which quickly built up throughout the morning, was diverted into Poole.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “There was heavy congestion in the area, including on the westbound stretch of the road as well, as people wait to get onto the fire station roundabout.”

The lamppost was also heavily damaged in the accident, exposing electrical wiring.

It proved a busy morning for emergency services on the A35, with a six car shunt taking place a few miles west of the serious Poole crash, less than three hours afterwards.

No-one was injured, but the Morden Park Corner smash left the road partially blocked for some time. The vehicles involved included a grey BMW 318, a grey Peugeot 206, a blue Audi A4, a red Fiat Panda, a blue Ford Fiesta and a blue Saab estate.

Five of these cars required recovery and large traffic queues quickly built up.