A COUPLE from Bournemouth escaped through the sunroof of their Rolls-Royce when it plunged off the car park at Sandbanks into the sea.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was parked near the approach to the chain ferry, and it is thought the driver may have mistakenly put the automatic into forward rather than reverse gear.

Onlookers watched as the car, with its two middle-aged occupants, lurched forward and nose-dived off the edge.

The accident happened yesterday (Sept 17) at around 5.20pm. Two men jumped in to the sea and climbed on to the vehicle to help a man and a woman escape through the sunroof.

One man threw a life ring to them and Philip Astell, 50, visiting the town from London, helped pull the male driver from the water.

He said: "I could see people inside the car as it went into the sea. It was gradually sinking and they were not far from going down with it.

Portland coastguard, police and ambulance crews attended and the couple were treated at the scene for shock.

The car was lifted out of the water late last night.

PC Paul Milward, of Poole police, said: "The driver and the passenger are alright. They are very shocked, the water was cold and they were in there for a few seconds."