A DRIVER had a lucky escape after hitting a street lamp when swerving to avoid a deer in the road.

The deer ran into the path of the car in the early hours of this morning.

The driver swerved to avoid the animal, colliding with a road sign and street lamp before ending up in an embankment.

Police say no injuries were sustained in the crash, near to Hightown in the New Forest.

Hants Roads Policing, who reported the incident on Twitter, said: "Lucky escape in the early hours for this driver on the A31 at Hightown who swerved to avoid a deer.

"Vehicle left road, travelled up embankment onto slip road colliding with road sign and street lamp.

"No injuries sustained. Beware of wildlife on the roads."