Atkinson freed from hospital after car crash

ACTOR Rowan Atkinson was discharged from hospital in a wheelchair yesterday after his car burst into flames after it crashed into a tree.

Atkinson was in a stable condition after being admitted to hospital on Thursday night.

Atkinson suffered a shoulder injury after his high-performance car crashed on the A605 in Haddon, Cambridgeshire.

The 56-year-old Blackadder and Mr Bean star was reportedly driving a McLaren F1 supercar when it spun around several times, ran into a tree and a lamppost and caught fire.

The actor is said to have walked from the vehicle and was with a passing motorist until emergency services arrived.

Atkinson, known to be a car enthusiast, recently topped the leader’s board on Top Gear’s Star in a Reasonably Priced Car contest.

He told presenter Jeremy Clarkson he was keen on racing and was currently driving a 1964 Ford Falcon.

The star notched up the fastest time on the show, completing the circuit in 1 minute 42.2 seconds.

Atkinson is best known for his work on Not The Nine O’Clock News, Blackadder and Mr Bean, in which his hapless character drives an old Mini.

He was routinely breathalysed at the scene of the accident and police added that criminal charges were not being considered.

Atkinson left Peterborough City Hospital via a back door flanked by four security guards at about 3pm.

He did not comment.

Security guards escorting Atkinson, who was in a wheelchair, tussled with a cameraman as he left in a Harley Street private ambulance.