A BBC spokesperson said the former England cricketer - known as Freddie - was injured during the incident at the Top Gear test track on Tuesday morning.

"He has been taken to hospital for further treatment and we will confirm more details in due course," the spokesperson added.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said it is "making inquiries" following the incident.

According to The Sun, Flintoff was shooting an episode for the series at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.

The newspaper said the 45-year-old was behind the wheel at the time and medics rushed to help before he was airlifted to hospital.

A source told the paper that Flintoff was "driving on the track as normal" and was not going at high speeds.

They added that his injuries are "not life-threatening" and he is receiving treatment.

A HSE spokesperson said: "HSE is aware of this incident and is making inquiries."

It is procedure for the BBC to report such incidents to the HSE, an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, and for inquiries to be made.

Flintoff debuted as a Top Gear host back in 2019, alongside Chris Harris.

He said at the time: "It's not often you have the chance to do both of your dream jobs, but I'm now lucky enough to say I will have. I've always been passionate about cars and I'm so excited to be joining the Top Gear team."

The Sun reported that Harris, who presents the show alongside Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness, was also at the Top Gear test track at the time of the incident.

It is not the first time Flintoff has been in an accident since beginning work on the show.

In February 2019, he was involved in a minor incident when he crashed into a market stall in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Then a few months later in September, he crashed again while driving a three-wheel vehicle at a reported speed of 124mph during filming for the show at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire. He walked away from the incident unharmed.

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was involved in a life-threatening crash at the same airfield in 2006, leaving him in a coma.

Flintoff enjoyed a hugely successful international career, most memorably helping England to their first Ashes victory in 18 years in 2005, before helping his side regain the urn four years later.

The father-of-four retired from Test cricket at the end of the 2009 Ashes series, and from other forms of the game in 2010.

He then had one professional boxing fight on 30 November 2012 in Manchester, where he beat American Richard Dawson on a points decision.