Crowthorne and Sandhurst

A Crowthorne pub was turned into a state of panic on Saturday night when a car careered into the front of the building - prompting fears that Crowthorne village was being targeted for another ramraid attack.

A silver Vauxhall Omega ploughed into the Iron Duke pub in Crowthorne High Street shortly after closing time on Saturday night.

It caused serious structural damage and amid concern that the wrecked wall was going to collapse the staff were evacuated from the premises.

Although the driver left the scene following the incident, part of the car's bumper and number plate were recovered in the rubble which scattered the pub floor.

The driver was later traced and agreed to meet with Thames Valley Police this week.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is still continuing.

Crowthorne Iron Duke landlord Ben Trickett, 28, said: "Luckily we had only just shut so there was only myself and a couple of members of staff - one downstairs and one upstairs.

"There was a bit of panic of course and the police were called but unfortunately there is not much we can do about it here.

"It will hopefully be less than two weeks before everything is sorted and we can be up and running again and I don't think there will be any long term consequences."

He described the trail of damage left after the incident: "The public bar area had been damaged and now there is general mess and dust left. The fruit machine and pool table were also smashed and the bollards, barriers and two park benches at the front of the pub have also been destroyed."

ic Berkshire ~ Crowthorne