A man has been arrested after his car crashed into security gates protecting Downing Street in central London, where the British Prime Minister has his official residence.

A woman tourist and her child --- who were by the gates at the time -- were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer were not in Downing Street at the time and police say security wasn't breached.

It is still unclear whether the man deliberately crashed into the gates or simply lost control of the car.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service