A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in the West End of London in the early hours of Christmas Day.

The Metropolitan police said officers were called at 00.45am on Wednesday after reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue in Covent Garden.

Four pedestrians were taken to hospital with one in a life-threatening condition, police said.

The alleged driver, a 31-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said they believed the suspect was “involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement”.

They added that it had “been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related”.

Forensic officers have arrived at Shaftesbury Avenue. Tourists in Soho have been stopping to look at the police cordon, as blood was visible on the pavement opposite the Gielgud theatre.

The cordon, located on Archer Street and Great Windmill Street, covers the Windmill Soho nightclub and other venues in the city centre.

Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “Officers responded quickly to this report, working closely with City of London police to arrest a man within minutes.

“Detectives are quickly progressing inquiries as part of this investigation.

“It’s believed that the suspect was involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement.

“Several scenes remain in place at the location today.

“This has been confirmed as an isolated incident which is not terror-related.”

Anyone with information is asked to call officers on 101.