LONDON, June 5, 2008 (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton's father showed none of the British Formula One star's skill behind the wheel as he crashed a Porsche worth 330,000 pounds (417,000 euros).

Anthony Hamilton, 48, lost control and skidded into a hedge and an empty children's playground near his home in Hertfordshire on Wednesday.

No one was hurt but thousands of pounds-worth of damage was caused to the Carrera GT convertible.

Hamilton, who helps manage his son, told The Sun: "This is my first crash in almost 30 years and it had to happen in someone else's car."

"Thankfully the only thing hurt was the car and a bush fence, for which I am extremely sorry."