A Hampshire police worker has had a miracle escape from his water-filled car.

The civilian officer was forced to escape through the back hatch of his car when it began to wash away as he tried to cross a Ford.

The man, who has not been named, managed to scramble free unharmed from the Ford Fiesta as it quickly became submerged in the water at Plaitford, near Romsey.

He had been attempting to cross a ford which had swelled to nearly three feet following torrential rain across the county.

A recovery vehicle was called to pull the car out which then had to be assisted by a digger as it struggled in the rising water. A Hampshire police spokesman said: "The car is one of our internal services vehicles and is used by a civilian worker.

"It was washed away as it crossed the ford. We've had a lot of rain and all the streams and rivers are swollen."