Fears that a second car had plunged into the Sixteen Foot Bank at Christchurch near March prompted a police rescue operation last night.

Police closed off Padgetts Road off the B1098 (the main road to Christchurch) whilst they carried out a search of the river.

A police spokesman said: “A Nissan Almera left the Sixteen Foot Bank and entered the water at Christchurch at about 11.30pm on Tuesday.

“The driver managed to get out of the vehicle and did not suffer any injuries.

“We received further calls at about 3pm yesterday reporting concern that another vehicle may have entered the water.

“Officers attended and carried out a search however it was established that the vehicle was the same one as from the incident on Tuesday.”

The spokesman said the car had been “deemed unsuitable for recovery” so will be removed when the Environment Agency next dredge the section of river.

Officers spent several hours at the scene looking for a possible second vehicle.