A SUSPECTED drink-driver smashed into four cars in a Southampton road last night.

The driver, thought to be in his 30s and from Winchester, was only stopped when residents along Foundry Lane pulled him from his Vauxhall Cavalier and held on to him until police arrived.

A passenger who was in the car and thought to be the driver's daughter ran "hysterical" from the vehicle and was looked after by neighbours until the emergency services arrived.

The driver, who has not been named, first crashed into a car being driven by a woman before careering into three more vehicles including a Daily Echo delivery van, a Volkswagen Golf and a Ford Probe. The damage caused is estimated to cost thousands of pounds.

Two of the cars, including the van, were so badly damaged they had to be towed away.

Residents today described the trail of destruction that unfolded on their doorstep. Student Ashley Fernandes, 19, said: "It was a real mess. Loads of police and fire engines and everything were down here.

"The first I heard was my dad yelling that this guy had gone into cars, including my brother's.

"The driver was pulled out. He seemed to be in a bit of a state, the girl he was with was really upset and my neighbour looked after her until the police came."

Paramedics, police and the fire service were all called to Foundry Lane near to the junction with Bangor Road at about 9pm.

Part of the road was sealed off while the wrecked vehicles were cleared.

This morning police confirmed that a man had been arrested in connection with the incident and was being questioned by officers.