A jury was dismissed last night after failing to reach a verdict in the case of a police officer accused of dangerous driving.

PC Timothy Temple was charged following a crash in Lewes Road, Brighton, in August last year.

The court has been told how Temple, 29, of Chichester Place, Brighton, was driving to a newsagents in Coombe Road to answer an emergency call.

He crossed to the wrong side of Lewes Road to avoid cars but collided with a Renault 5 turning right into Southover Street.

The patrol car was wrecked after it mounted the pavement and slammed into a wall before demolishing a lamp post.

The driver of the Renault suffered whiplash but Temple, and a colleague passenger, escaped injury.

The prosecution accused Temple of driving dangerously and at speeds of up to 50mph.

Temple, who joined the police service less than three years ago, told the jury he thought the Renault had stopped to allow the police car to pass.

After retiring for four and a half hours, a jury at Lewes Crown Court failed to reach a verdict and was discharged by Judge Anthony Scott-Gall.

The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to make a decision within two weeks on whether to hold a retrial.