POLICE have warned motorists against trying to avoid smaller wildlife after a new Mercedes Benz crashed while swerving for a rabbit.

Officers were called to reports of a one-vehicle collision on the northbound side of the A1(M) just before the Burtree Interchange, near Darlington, at 1am yesterday.

The driver of a black Mercedes Benz – a man in his twenties – had swerved to avoid a rabbit and collided with roadside furniture.

Nobody was injured in the collision.

A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said: “While it can be tempting to try to avoid hitting wildlife while driving, you should not brake hard or swerve for anything smaller than a dog.

“You are potentially putting your own life and other people’s lives at risk.

“Under the Road Traffic Act, drivers who hit anything larger than a dog should stop and report the accident to police.”

PC Mike "Spike" Fisher, known through Channel 5 show Police Interceptors, attended the scene of the crash.

He tweeted as @Spike_Pizza: "Brand new Mercedes swerved to avoid a rabbit on the A1M . Fortunately the rabbit hopped off ok , but not the Merc or the trees."