A man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving after a female police officer was injured in what was first described as a hit and run accident near Woodbridge.

The 25-year-old Woodbridge man was initially detained under the Mental Health Act after the incident, in which a silver Volkswagen Golf reportedly drove into the officer’s parked vehicle at the A12/A1152 junction shortly after 5pm yesterday.

Police said he has since been deemed fit and has been arrested and held in the Martlehsam Police Investigation Centre.

The incident was at first treated by Suffolk Constabulary as an assault on a police officer because of the “behaviour” of the driver of the Volkswagen and “what he said” before running away from the scene, a force spokesman said.

The female police officer suffered bruising and other minor injuries and was taken to Ipswich Hospital to be checked over.

The police helicopter was deployed for several hours as officers began searching the area for the suspect.

The female police officer was carrying out a routine patrol at the time of the collision and it is thought she was parked near the roundabout, possibly on a grass verge near Woods Lane, a police spokesman said.

Both of the vehicles were recovered for forensic experts to examine.

The extent of the damage sustained by the police car is not known.

When asked what area of the police car was hit, the force spokesman said “enquiries are ongoing”.

But police did confirm that it is believed that the police officer did not know the motorist who drove into her vehicle.

A force spokesman said: “She does not recall ever dealing with him.”

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 5.26pm to the A12 at Woodbridge.

“We sent one ambulance and we treated a female who had minor injuries and a few bruises.

“She was taken to Ipswich Hospital.”