A GARDEN wall was destroyed after a driver was taken ill at the wheel and crashed near a row of shops.

Emergency services were called to Darwen Road, in Bromley Cross, at about 7pm on Saturday night to reports of a collision involving a black Range Rover.

The driver, who is understood to have been taken ill clipped another car and ploughed into a wooden planter outside Earthlings coffee shop and Bargain Booze.

The flower box was shunted into the wall of the nearest house, destroying the brickwork and damaging the front gate.

A brick broke loose and smashed a window at the neighbouring property, whose gate was also damaged by the force of the collision.

The driver was taken to hospital and is understood to be recovering.

His passenger was unhurt but said to be ‘shaken up’.