A driver is fighting for life after his car crashed into a lamppost in Purley.

The 55-year-old man has been rushed to hospital by ambulance following the collision in Godstone Road, near the junction with Downs Court Road, at about 1.30pm.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and air ambulance were sent to the scene.

The driver is thought to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel of his car before the crash.

He was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

The spokesman added: "This incident is not being treated as suspicious. No arrests have been made and no other vehicles were involved.

"The injury suffered by the driver is not believed to have been sustained from collision, [and] appears to be related to an existing medical condition."

🚧 GODSTONE ROAD STILL CLOSED 🚧 @LDNairamb left scene, 55YO with life threatening injuries to hospital #Croydoncops pic.twitter.com/9oXp66yWit

— Croydon MPS (@MPSCroydon) August 1, 2016

Veronica Aldous, who lives in Downs Court Road, was driving home from Catherham when she came across the crash.

She said: “This is a massive accident. There’s a car up on the embankment twisted round, and lots and lots of emergency services. That part of Godstone Road has been completely cordoned off.

“[The car] was almost turned round the wrong way.”

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It was the second crash in the area in the last month, said Ms Aldous, who added: “I don’t like looking in case there’s a fatality, but there were plenty of police, ambulances, and fire engines there.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 1.30pm today, 1 August to reports of a road traffic collision at Downs Court Road.

"We sent an ambulance crew and a single responder in a car to the scene alongside London’s Air Ambulance.

"We treated a man at the scene and took him as a priority to a hospital in south London escorted by the doctor from the air ambulance.”

Godstone Road was cordoned off and closed in both directions following the crash, although it has since reopened.

There is severe congestion around Purley Cross and buses are being diverted.

Are you at the scene? Call the newsdesk on 0208 722 7351 or email chris.baynes@newsquest.co.uk