A DRIVER had a lucky escape after smashing through railings and plunging his car in to the river Foss.

The accident happened at around 6.25am today at Foss Bank in York when the driver of a silver Vauxhall Omega estate lost control on a bend in the road opposite the entrance to Sainsbury's supermarket.

The car, driven by a man in his 20s from York, ended up in the river. It was spotted by a passing ambulance and the floundering driver was hauled uninjured from the water by paramedics who alerted the police.

Sgt Julian Pearson, of York Police, who attended the incident, said a roadside breath test had been carried out which showed the man was over the drink-drive limit.

He said: "Unfortunately, this kind of accident is not uncommon, but in this instance the driver is very lucky to be alive because he plunged into freezing cold water. If he hadn't been spotted by the ambulance crew, things could have been worse."

The driver was taken to York police station where he was being questioned by detectives. Witnesses should phone Sgt Pearson on 0845 6060247.

Updated: 11:06 Saturday, February 11, 2006