CROWDS were left reeling after a Land Rover Freelander was involved in multiple collisions in the heart of Great Malvern.

The vehicle, which was described as being driven extremely erratically, collided with a Peugeot 107 after heading down Church Street and turning down Graham Road.

Police at the scene said the female driver of the Peugeot was quite shaken but not severely injured.

The Freelander was abandoned in the middle of Graham Road shortly after the collision with a smashed windscreen and two badly damaged wheels.

Police found its female driver further down Graham Road shortly afterwards and she was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Eyewitnesses reported that before it was abandoned the Freelander was driven through the town centre erratically, sounding its horn and running a red light at the corner of Church Street and Graham Road.

It then stopped for a few minutes at Great Malvern Priory, hitting the gate post of the car park as it entered.

Richard Ashton, from Alan Morris estate agents, in Church Street, said: "We ran out the office because we heard a screech and a big bang.

"The car nearly hit a woman and her baby. Both of them were left in tears."

Police re-opened Graham Road at about 11.15am after broken glass was cleared and the abandoned vehicle had been town away.

South Worcestershire police spokesman Richard Bull said: “A woman was detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act following a series of calls at 9.51am.

“The female driver of the blue Land Rover Freelander was involved in a collision with a black Peugeot 107 and also collided with the gates of the churchyard. She appears to have been on her own.

“A person in the second vehicle sustained a minor hand injury and the car had severe offside damage.”

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information should call 0300 333 3000 and quote incident number 148S/120509.