TWO men were being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder last night after an off-duty police officer was reversed over by a hit-and-run motorist.

TWO men were being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder last night after an off-duty police officer was reversed over by a hit-and-run motorist.

The 31-year-old officer was injured as he tried to speak to the driver of a car that had crashed into a wall in Elms Lane, Wangford, near Southwold, at about 8.20pm.

As the officer approached the Honda vehicle, it is alleged the driver reversed at speed, knocking him over and then leaving the scene.

The runaway car then crashed into four stationary and unoccupied vehicles before leaving the area.

Two men were later arrested at an address in Yoxford, around nine miles away from the scene of the incident.

The officer, who works for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary at nearby Sizewell, was taken to James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston, with pelvic injuries not thought to be life threatening.

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “The off-duty officer approached the vehicle, which had a collided with a brick wall, with a view of seeing to the driver.

“Unfortunately, the driver has then reversed at speed, knocking down the officer. The vehicle has then driven off at speed and had been in collision with four further vehicles that were stationary and unoccupied.”

A major search involving the police helicopter was immediately launched to find the getaway car, which was located within two hours of the accident.

The police spokesman said the two arrested men were being held on suspicion of attempted murder and had been taken to Lowestoft Police Station.

A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed crews had been called to a report of a hit-and-run incident in which a man was knocked over by a car.