Police were today trying to trace the driver of a runaway car which careered off the road through the front window of a packed pub.

Pedestrians dived for cover as the red F-reg Volvo veered out of control, mounted the pavement and crashed through the plate glass window of Bar Med in Western Road, Hove, at 9.20pm on Sunday.

The driver and three accomplices were spotted jumping from the car and running west along the street.

Bar manager Philip Way said: "I was behind the bar when an off-duty policewoman came running in and told us what had happened.

"There were four people in the car which must have been going too fast. I think he tried to take the corner and just lost control and went straight through the window.

"Thankfully it was part of the pub that we close off on Sunday nights so none of our customers were affected.

"The road was cordoned off, the car was towed away and we had the window fixed quite quickly."

The driver, described as 5ft 10in tall with brown hair and wearing green trousers and a green shirt, was carrying a bomber jacket as he fled the scene.

A police spokesman said: "We received dozens of calls from people saying the car had narrowly missed them.

"The windscreen of the car was smashed so we expect the driver may well have sustained head injuries and cuts to his forehead.

"At this stage we do not know why the driver lost control and would like to hear from anyone else who witnessed the vehicle being driven earlier that evening."

A spokesman for Hove fire brigade said: "People were sitting next to the windows at tables having a drink. It was extremely lucky someone was not seriously hurt."