A NEW Forest man had an amazing escape after being driven for almost a quarter of a mile - and through a red traffic light - on the bonnet of a car.

The man, who is from the Lymington area, was first thought to have sustained a broken leg in the incident in New Milton.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital, but it was later established that he sustained severe bruising to his legs and back and he was later discharged.

An 18-year-old woman, also from the Lymington area, who was believed to have been driving the car was arrested and later released on bail pending further inquiries.

The man, who is in his 20s but has not been named, was with his bicycle in Station Road - the main road running through New Milton town centre - when he was hit by the car and landed on its bonnet.

Police are trying to establish exactly how he got on to the bonnet somewhere close to the Rydal pub.

The car was reported to have been driven through a red light on a pedestrian crossing before the casualty was thrown off on to the pavement in front of the doorway of Barclays bank at about 1.10pm yesterday.

The driver was located by police a short time later. A breath test is understood to have proved negative.

PC Howie Miell is leading the investigation and urged anyone who saw the accident to come forward.

"We do have a number of witnesses but we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw the initial impact prior to the Rydal pub in the Barton Court Road area," he said.

Ring PC Miell at Lyndhurst traffic on 0845 045 4545.