The car was the Italian police force's pride and joy

Italian police have crashed their most valuable patrol car, a 165,000-euro (£150,000) Lamborghini.

The accident happened near the northern Italian town of Cremona where it was on display at a student jobs fair.

Reports say the car swerved to avoid another vehicle which crossed into its path, ploughing into two stationary cars. It was damaged beyond repair.

One of the two officers in the vehicle at the time of the incident suffered a broken rib, the other received bruises.

The Lamborghini car, painted in the Italian police force's blue and white colours, was a gift to the force from the carmakers in 2004.

The six-speed luxury vehicle with a 500-horsepower engine is designed to go from zero to 100km/h (60mph) in four seconds.