VETERAN magician Ali Bongo has been discharged from Swindon's Great Western Hospital after being injured in a road accident.

His car was involved in a collision with a lorry on the A350 Chippenham road on Tuesday afternoon.

The 74-year-old conjurer, whose real name is William Wallace, had been leaving a roundabout near the M4's Chippenham exit in his black Daimler Jaguar.

In the collision, which happened at 1.45pm, the lorry struck the driver's side of the car on the dual carriageway.

PC Richard Hatch of Corsham Traffic Police said the lorry driver might have swerved to avoid the car as it attempted a U-turn.

The white Scania lorry was thrown onto the opposite carriageway, facing oncoming traffic.

The lorry came to a stop just after a house known as Pretty Chimneys.

The lorry driver and passenger, both male, were physically unhurt but severely shocked.

PC Hatch said it was fortunate that the lorry did not hit oncoming traffic.

Mr Wallace and his passenger, also in his seventies, had to be cut out of the car by firefighters.

They were taken hospital in Swindon but their injuries were not as serious as had first been feared and they were discharged on Tuesday evening.

The road was closed for nearly four hours between the Plough crossroads and Junction 17 of the M4 while police officers investigated the scene, but rush-hour chaos was avoided as traffic was diverted through Kington Langley.

Mr Wallace is a British comedy magician who bills himself as the Shriek of Araby. He is also vice-president of the Illustrious Council of the Magic Circle.

David Beckley, press officer for the Magic Circle, said: "We were very shocked to hear that Ali had been involved in an accident and wish him a speedy recovery."

Mr Wallace is a magic consultant who has worked on Paul Daniels' magic shows and the TV series Jonathan Creek.

He is author of several books on comedy magic and an accomplished illustrator, drawing for a number of magic catalogues.

His catchphrase is Uju Buju Suck Another Juju.

Police are now appealing for witnesses who may have seen the crash or car before the collision occurred.

Anyone with information is asked to call 01249 654455.