A policeman ploughed his patrol car into a pavement post before speeding off along the seafront.

The officer crashed into the pole in Central Parade, Herne Bay, while attempting to pull off the walkway in front of stunned onlookers outside the Bandstand.

But instead of stopping and reporting the accident, the officer sped off towards the Kings Hall with the bumper hanging off his Skoda Octavia.

Before he fled, eagle-eyed witnesses managed to jot down his number plate.

Andy Roy and Rob Badder were among those who saw the prang at midday yesterday.

Mr Roy, from Broomfield, said: “We were on the seafront and this police car was parked on the pavement outside the Bandstand.

"As he reversed he swung his nearside wing into the pole and bent it over. He stopped, had a look around to see if anybody had seen him and then bumped off the pavement and sped off.

"I could see a huge dent in his wing and the bumper was half hanging off.

"We got his number plate down and then drove after him. He turned left up past the Kings Hall, probably to get out and have a look at the damage somewhere quiet."

"if the shoe was on the other foot and i'd hit a post and driven off they would have made a right scene of it..."– witness andy roy

Mr Roy said a member of the public would have found themselves in hot water for acting the same way.

He said: "If the shoe was on the other foot and I'd hit a post and driven off they would have made a right scene of it.

"I would have definitely got a fine and probably been breathalysed. It’s one rule for them and one for everyone else.

"What was he even doing on the pavement anyway? I know it was only a post but it could have been a kid. He wasn't paying any attention at all."

Kent Police spokesman Jane Walker said the officer reported the collision to his supervisor.

She added: "It will be investigated in line with force policy."

Bosses hope to establish why the car was being driven on the pavement.