A car careered down a riverbank following a crash.

The driver was missing and police and firefighters had to look for him.

The road remains closed this morning.

Emergency services were called just after 6.45am on Christmas Eve to the scene off the A28 at Thanington Without.

The car had ended up on the embankment by the River Stour and had come close to going into the water.

Fire appliances sent out included a water rescue unit from Whitstable.

Canterbury Fire Station crew manager Nigel Collins said: “The car ended up very, very close to the water.

“The river is only 1ft deep but firefighters with dry suits with police went looking for the driver.

“He was soon found and had no visible injuries.”

The crash, near the Milton Manor roundabout, had involved two cars and five people had been in the second one.

They had minor injuries and were cared for by staff from South East Coast Ambulance Service.

A total three fire engines were called to the incident, the other vehicles coming from Canterbury and Whitstable.

Fire crews were at the scene for just over an hour.

The road remains closed this morning while the crashed vehicles were being recovered.

The driver of the car that went down the embankment was arrested following the incident.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop.

"He has been taken to a local hospital as a precaution.”