THAMES Valley Police vehicles were involved in 789 car crashes this year, with repairs costing a total of £396,000, it has been reported.

According to a national newspaper, more than 400 of the incidents were deemed to be the fault of the police driver. Collisions with force vehicles left 30 members of the public and 46 officers injured.

The report claimed Matthew Seddon, from Reading, died in February after his car hit the central reservation while being pursued on the A33 in the town.

The force covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

No-one from the force was available for comment.