A car has crashed into the main gate of the Prime Minister’s luxury country mansion Chequers.
The collision involved a white Volkswagen Scirocco which smashed through bollards before careering through the entrance of 16th century mansion Chequers.
A 44-year-old man was then arrested by police on suspicion of drink-driving.
Pictures from the scene showed the roof and driver’s door torn off near Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the 44-year-old man suffered serious injuries and has been taken to hospital.
He was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and drink-driving.
There was nothing to suggest the incident was politically or terrorist-related.
Eyewitness Ian Longthorne, who was visiting a friend in the area, was outside the Prime Minister’s countryside retreat at the time of the incident.
He told The Daily Mail: “We’d gone for a walk and stopped at a nearby pub. We saw an ambulance car, a fire engine and then an unmarked police car go past, but didn’t think much of it.
“We carried on with our walk and my friend showed me a public path that goes through Chequers where you can look back to the entrance.
“We could see the car and I took a couple of shots from there, before I left and took some from outside the front entrance. It’s always a shock to see a crash and this was one was quite an unusual one.”
In a statement, Thames Valley Police added: “We are investigating a road traffic collision on Missenden Road, today (Tues).
“A white Volkswagen Scirocco hit the barriers at the entrance to Chequers shortly after midday.
“The driver, a 44-year-old man from Buckinghamshire, who was the only occupant, suffered serious injuries and has been taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where he remains.
“He has also been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and drink-driving. While we are still in the very early stages of our investigation, there is currently no evidence to suggest there was any intention to harm anyone.
“Anyone with information should call 101 or make a report on our website.”
A Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson also said: “One appliance and crew from Aylesbury and one from High Wycombe attended, along with an officer.”
Chequers, which first became the Prime Minister’s country home in 1921, is just 41 miles away from Downing Street.
