AN OFFICE building has been left with a gaping hole in its wall after a car ploughed into it.

The incident happened just before 6am when a black Vauxhall Astra crashed into the side of the Edbro offices in Lever Street causing significant damage and flooding the office with water from a radiator which was thrown from the wall.   

A 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drugs. He remains in custody for questioning.

It is not believed that anyone was injured in the crash.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called to a road traffic collision involving a Vauxhall Astra, which had gone into the side of the Edbro building in Lever Street at around 6am.

“We were initially called to reports of smoke coming from the car but it turned out just to be steam.

“There was considerable damage to the side of the office and we had to perform a salvage operation.

“No one was trapped in the vehicle and police apprehended an individual at the scene, and an ambulance was also in attendance.” 

Following the incident the car was quickly removed from the building, and a building safety inspector attended the scene today.

A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called at 5.57am to reports of a collision of a vehicle and a building in Lever Street.

“We attended a male patient but he was not taken to hospital.”

The building is the home of Edbro, and forms part of a facility run by the firm's parent company Jost.

Edbro was formed in 1916 and has always had its home in the town,  specialising in the manufacture of systems, modules and components for commercial vehicles.   

A spokesman for Jost said: "A car has driven into the side of our wall causing significant damage to the exterior of the building.

"It has also taken a radiator off the wall which has flooded the office.

"There was no one in the office when the collision happened and no one has suffered any injuries that we are aware of.

"We have since had an inspector come down at around 10am to make sure that the building is safe, and we are waiting to hear the result of the inspection.

"We are now going to put a wooden fixture on the wall and we are putting extra security in place in that position due to the breach in the building."

Police are continuing to make enquiries into the incident and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

A GMP spokesman said: "Shortly before 5.50am today, Tuesday 25 September 2018, police were called to reports of a collision on Lever Street in Bolton.

"Officers attended and established that a black Vauxhall Astra had collided with a wall.

"There are no reported injuries and a 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drugs. He remains in custody for questioning.

"Enquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 278 of 25/09/2018, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."