Beckham's lucky escape in crash

Beckham was hurt playing in the Champions League

Footballer David Beckham's famous injured foot was still intact after the player was reportedly involved in a car accident in his top-of-the-range Mercedes.

The crash happened on a "blind bend" in Hertfordshire, say reports.

Beckham - currently recovering from a broken foot - was uninjured as was the other driver, reportedly an off-duty policeman.

The two collided on Thursday of last week on a bend close to the Beckhams' home in Sawbridgeworth.

Extensive damage

"The accident could have been much worse," an unnamed source told Wednesday's Daily Mail.

The England midfielder has had his leg in plaster since his injury, caused in a challenge with Deportivo La Coruna's Argentine defender Aldo Duscher two weeks ago.

The nation is holding its breath while Beckham recovers

Beckham broke the second metatarsal bone in his foot after the tackle, during Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final victory over Deportivo Coruna.

He is still able to drive as the car is an automatic.

Both vehicles sustained extensive damage in the crash.

Fighting to get fit

Beckham's Mercedes 500 was said to have suffered thousands of pounds in damage while the police officer's car - a Ford Focus - came off with dents to the driver's side wing and rear doors.

Twenty six-year-old Beckham is fighting the clock to get fit in time for England's World Cup challenge in Japan and South Korea, which begins in June.

He is currently having treatment to heal the bone - reported to include using a special low-oxygen tent to maintain his fitness.

His recovery is expected to take between six to eight weeks with the footballer aiming to play England's first match of the finals, against Sweden on 2 June.