The driver of a car, who crashed into a sign post after speeding down a road in the middle of the night “disappeared”.

The fire brigade was called at 3.15am today after reports a car hit an advertising sign on the side of the road on Cranbrook Road, Ilford.

A fire brigade spokesman said: “The car must have been travelling at very high speed. The drive lost control, swung into the pavement and hit an advertising sign.

“The car was absolutely smashed but by the time we got there, the person had disappeared.”

Oil was found running down the road and the fire brigade made the area safe.