EXCLUSIVE PICTURES: Police dog unit in smash with Range Rover on dual carriageway

Firefighters rushed to the scene after an unmarked police dog unit was involved in a collision with a Range Rover on the A12 last night.

An onlooker said he was told the accident happened at just after 10pm after a third vehicle, which was not damaged, started to reverse onto the Eastern Avenue eastbound between Gants Hill and Newbury Park.

A police officer and his dog were seen to exit the 24-registration black Volvo hybrid which was badly damaged and had its airbags engaged.

A number of unmarked police cars arrived at the scene, along with firefighters and a marked police dog unit vehicle which took the animal away.

There were no reports of injuries and an ambulance crew initially alerted was told it was not required.

The onlooker said: "I heard a crash and a small crowd of people came out to see what happened. The police officer and dog got out and it looked like a very new vehicle was probably a write off.

"More police and the fire service turned up with traffic having to drive around the unmarked car."

A London Fire Service spokesperson said: "Firefighters were mobilised to a road traffic collision on Eastern Avenue in Ilford.

"Two vehicles were in collision with each other. There are no reports of any injuries.

"The Brigade was called at 10:04pm and the incident was over for firefighters at 10:30pm. Two fire engines and around ten firefighters from Ilford Fire Station attended the scene."

The Met Police has a dog support unit in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "All we can see is that there was a report of a collision but no further details."