A POLICE officer is in a 'life threatening' condition following a serious crash on the A38.

Police were called at 1.34am on Tuesday (January 29) to the A38 Bristol Road in Rooksbridge to reports of a one vehicle crash involving a police officer in a marked police vehicle.

The officer was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by the fire service. Two police dogs which were in the vehicle at the time of the crash were taken straight to a veterinary hospital but luckily they did not suffer any injuries.

Bristol Road was closed from the Mendip Road junction to Kingsway, Tarnock this morning while accident investigators carried out their investigation but it has since reopened.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We were called at 1.34am today to the A38 Bristol Road in Rooksbridge, Axbridge, to reports of a one vehicle road traffic collision involving an officer in a marked police vehicle.

"The officer was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by fire services.

"Air ambulance were also in attendance and the officer was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. The officer's family are aware.

"Bristol Road was closed from the Mendip Road junction to Kingsway, Tarnock." Caroline Peters, Head of Tri-Force Specialist Operations, said the force is supporting the officer and his family. She said: “Our thoughts are with our officer and his family and we’re supporting them and our colleagues through this difficult time.”