A MOTORIST escaped injury when their car overturned into the River Foss in York this morning.

The black Volkswagen Polo came off Haxby Road and ended up on its side in slow-moving water at about 5.20am today.

Haxby Road was closed in both directions while emergency services attended between Haley's Terrace and Link Road.

North Yorkshire Fire Service said crews from Huntington and Acomb were sent to the Foss, along with a river rescue unit, and helped search the river bank for casualties, before leaving the scene just before 6am.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the road had now reopened, but traffic is expected to remain slow in the area while recovery of the vehicle takes place.

The spokesman said nobody had been hurt in the incident.