A driver ran off when his car overturned after smashing into parked cars.

The man was driving in Stanford Avenue, Brighton, yesterday when the collision occurred, causing substantial damage to all the vehicles involved.

The driver's car flipped on to its roof but the man crawled out and fled.

Police launched a search of the surrounding area.

A woman, who heard the screech of tyres and the impact, said: "I went to look out the window and saw the car upside down and two cars badly damaged.

"Apparently the man who was driving the car ran off and a couple of men gave chase but gave up.

"The police had a helicopter out looking for him."

She said the cars looked as though they had been written off, including the over-turned one.

She said: "It is a shame because one of them belonged to an old lady who used to go out and polish it every day.

"It was a white Beetle and she is distraught. It is the main road and people drive too fast."

A man was later arrested in connection with the incident.