wagon and a private car were involved in a collision on Middle Road near Riddell's Bay.

It is understood the private car was travelling in an easterly direction just past the Esso Service Station around 5.05 p.m. when it struck the curb and bounced off into the path of the Police car travelling west.

The car driver was not hurt. The Police Sergeant in the other car suffered whiplash but was otherwise unhurt.

Both cars sustained major damage. The Scirocco's front end was pushed back while most of the damage to the Police car was confined to the bonnet.

Irate motorists were backed up along Middle Road as far as Paget as Police officers stationed on Harbour Road and Middle Road near the Warwick Post office tried to direct traffic along alternative routes. Traffic was moving at a normal pace by 7 p.m.

A Police spokesman said that details of the accident were unclear but neither man was seriously injured.

"There was extensive damage to both cars,'' the spokesman said. "We will have more once the Police investigators have completed the report.''