A VAN driver fled after ploughing into a traffic light, cars and garages on Weymouth seafront last night.

Shocked witnesses told how a child could have been killed when the white Ford Transit smashed into a crossing and garages behind Weymouth Bay holiday apartments at Greenhill.

The police helicopter swooped over the area after the man abandoned the van near the entrance to the tip behind Lodmoor Country Park last night.

Angela Blake, who has run the holiday apartments for 22 years with husband Bob, said: "The man hit the traffic lights before crashing into a car and the garages.

"My husband and I tried to apprehend him. But he reversed into my car and got away. I think he drove back the other way and left the van in the car park at Lodmoor."

She added: "It made an incredible noise and looked like a bomb had gone off.

"A child crossing the road could have been killed.

"I'm just grateful no-one was hurt."

One traffic light was knocked over, one car lost its wing mirror, the front of another was smashed in and garages were badly damaged in the crash, which happened opposite the Lodmoor Inn.

Witness Jane McKell said: "I saw the van driver come back toward me after the crash.

"He was going like a bat out of hell and his windscreen was all smashed like crazy paving.

"I though what the hell is he doing on the road, then I saw what had happened."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident at 6.25pm yesterday.

Police arranged for the van to be recovered from the end of the road to the tip at 8pm.

A guest at the holiday apartments said: "I think he drove the van up the road and then did a runner."

Anyone with information is urged to call Dorset Police on (01305) 251212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.