A car crashed into the side of a Blackwell's office building in Oxford today, after fleeing from police investigating reports of dangerous driving.

The 35-year-old driver of the car was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, with serious head and upper body injuries at 1.25am, after the crash at the junction of Rewley Road and Hythe Bridge Street.

Insp John Ramsbottom, of Thames Valley Police, said police were called to land behind Oxford Ice Rink, in Oxpens Road, just after 1am.

Travellers attending a wedding in Oxford were camped there. One of the people on the site rang police, complaining about a Mercedes car that was being driven dangerously.

Insp Ramsbottom said that as a police car drove onto the site, the Mercedes car left, and the police car followed.

Because police were involved in the crash, the force's Professional Standards Department will investigate the circumstances of the crash.

Insp Ramsbottom said: "The police were at the site. We were looking for somebody driving erratically and dangerously.

"At this point there does not appear to have been a police car behind the vehicle when impact occurred, but this person certainly was attempting to put some space between him and the police.

"The initial report was of high speed and erratic and dangerous driving. That would appear to be the standard of driving throughout."

Station Officer John Nixon, of Rewley Road Fire Station, said the car was badly damaged but damage to the building was not serious. He said firefighters provided first aid until the ambulance service arrived.