A driver was lucky to escape alive after his people carrier collided with another car and flipped onto its roof.

The 43-year-old was cut free from the wreckage and air lifted to hospital in a neurosurgical centre in Romford, Essex with suspected spinal injuries.

Several streets around central Gravesend were closed after this morning's crash in Wrotham Road just after 7am.

Two fire crews spent just over an hour cutting the injured man free to allow the Kent Air Ambulance, which landed on the cricket pitch behind the Bat and Ball pub, to take over.

Kent Road, Essex Road, Trafalgar Road, Wrotham Road, Sheppey Place and Portland Road were all sealed off.

Sgt David Curtis, of Kent Police, said: “The scene looks much worse than it actually is. This man was lucky to get out alive. He’s definitely had a really lucky escape.” There were no passengers on board.