A family fear a crash with a police car answering an emergency call could jeopardise their first holiday away together for ten years.

Father-of-five Richard Holmes, 39, was driving in London Road, Headington, Oxford, waiting to turn right when a police car overtaking from behind on a 999 call was in collision with the front end of his car.

Richard and Louise HolmesMr Holmes's car, a J-registered Austin Montego, was badly damaged and is awaiting repairs.

But the family are due to go Pontins, near Weston-super-Mare, next month, and fear they may now have to cancel the trip.

Mr Holmes made an official complaint about the collision on June 4 and the crash is being investigated by police.

Mr Holmes, who lives in London Road, said he had been badly shaken by the accident. He added: "I could have been killed if my car had been a bit further over."

Mr Holmes, who works as a warehouse operative for Savona Provisions on the Horspath Industrial Estate, said he did not yet know if his car would be written off.

If it is, and Thames Valley Police are not found responsible for the collision, the family will not be able to claim for the loss under their third-party insurance cover.

He said his wife Louise, 31, and family were looking forward to their break. The children are Leah, seven, Connor, five, Lucie, three, 14-month-old Mitchell and week-old Tommy.

The crash follows statistics published by the Oxford Mail recently which revealed 35 people were injured in collisions involving

police cars in the county in the past year. The force also made 233 insurance claims in the same period, for 116 vehicles belonging to members of the public and 189 police cars.

Supt Keith Ringsall from Thames Valley Police said: "All accidents are treated seriously by Thames Valley Police whether they involve police cars or not. A traffic supervisor will be appointed to oversee the investigation into this accident and it will be investigated thoroughly.

"If there is sufficient evidence that any driver is at fault, then the matter will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service."