A Spanish motorist crashed his car into a church and drove up the aisle after claiming he had been possessed by the devil.

The man forced his Jeep through the door of the church in Sonseca in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police say they found the man visibly disturbed next to the altar, claiming it was the only place he would be safe from his 'possession'.

Pictures inside the San Juan Evangelista church showed the Jeep parked in the aisle with visible damage to the door and pews after the bizarre intrusion.

Intruder: A Jeep is parked in a Spanish church after the driver claimed he had been possessed by the devil and sought refuge in the building

Mariano Perea, a spokesman for local police, said the man could not break through the door at first and was confronted by a passer-by.

A woman went to check on him, thinking he had had an accident, but he lowered his window and scared her away by shouting at her.

The woman then called the emergency services while the driver continued ramming into the church door until he finally broke through it, according to Spanish media.

When Civil Guard agents found the man next to the altar, he told them it was the only place he believed he would be safe.

The driver suffered several injuries and was taken to the Virgen de la Salud de Toledo hospital for observation by medics.

Parking spot: Pictures inside the San Juan Evangelista church showed the black vehicle parked in the aisle with visible damage to the door and pews

Damaged: There was considerable damage to the pews (left) and door (right) after the driver apparently made several attempts to get inside the church

There are reports that he could have suffered a drug-induced psychotic outbreak and he has been tested for drugs and alcohol at the hospital.

No one else was injured, it is believed.

According to local authorities, the case is being investigated and the driver could be arrested in the following days.

The driver has not been named, but reports say he owns a shop less than 900 yards from the church which specialises in cannabis-related products.

Cannabis is decriminalised for personal cultivation and use in Spain.