POLICE are today hunting a white van driver after a double hit and run in Ipswich.Two drivers – one an off-duty policeman – have been left with damaged cars after a van hit into them in two separate crashes in the town centre.

POLICE are today hunting a white van driver after a double hit and run in Ipswich.

Two drivers – one an off-duty policeman – have been left with damaged cars after a van hit into them in two separate crashes in the town centre.

Victim Robin Baker, of Downside Close, says his car is now a write-off, but was fortunate the first victim was a police officer.

Detective Inspector Nick Hale, of Chelmsford Police, chased the van driver and recorded his number plate.

DI Hale's vehicle suffered minor damage after being hit in Fonnereau Road

The van sped off and he followed it through town where it then collided with Mr Baker's Ford Granada in Brunswick Road at 10.50pm.

Mr Baker, 58, said: "I'd just left a colleague's house and was driving home. I came to a junction and was waiting where a car was parked on the opposite side of the road.

"The van turned the corner and didn't let me out. Instead he squeezed through the gap between me and parked car.

"It wasn't wide enough and he scrapped from the front to the back of my car. It got worse towards the back as the gap got smaller.

"I was lucky the police officer was following him and we went to the police station together.

"It's quite demoralising. My car is still driveable but it's basically a write-off as it would cost more to repair than it's worth.

"The police officer was absolutely livid because his car was only a few days old.

"I'm just waiting for the police to contact me now to see what happens."

Anne Marie Beach, Suffolk police spokesman, said: "We had reports of two fail to stop, damage only incidents and fortunately, one of the victims managed to get the number plate of the offending vehicles.

"Now we will be dealing with it through the usual channels, by making follow-up enquiries.

"It is fortunate no one was injured."

The accidents happened at about 10.45pm on April 30.

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