Crime reporter Nicola Dowling was despatched to the accident scene near Manchester Airport after the world player of the year drove his Ferrari into a roadside barrier.

Using a Nokia N95 phone she was able to take exclusive stills and video footage which were later sold to a variety of national media outlets including Sky News, the BBC and The Sun.

The pictures were also used on the front page of the paper and on the MEN website, while the video footage was used both on the site and on local TV outlet Channel M.

Said Nicola: "As soon as we got the tip-off I and a photographer headed down there.

"I got down there before the scene had been properly secured and I was able to snap off a lot of pictures on my mobile and take some video footage as well."

The phones were issued to all MEN reporters last year as part of the move towards a multimedia newsroom.

"In a situation like this where you have got to get something in a short space of time they are invaluable," said Nicola.

Editor Paul Horrocks added: "It's been a great exercise for the convergent newsroom and it's been a good day for syndication.

"It proves the worth of reporters with some training using a mobile phone as a video camera in the way Nicola did."

Ronaldo, who has spent an estimated £2m on cars since joining Manchester United, was unhurt in the crash.

It is understood he and other Manchester United players were making their way from their homes in Cheshire to the club's training complex near Sale.

Nicola's pictures can be seen here while the video can be viewed here.