A POPULAR Indian restaurant has been damaged after a car crashed into the front of the building this morning.

The vehicle had lost control while driving down Blackburn Road before colliding with The Pavilion in Astley Bridge at around 6.30am.

Damage was caused to the brickwork and a window lintel of the restaurant in the impact meaning that The Pavilion has had to partially close its dining room.

The vehicle also narrowly missed crashing into a gas main.

Muj Rahman, manager at The Pavilion, said: "A car crashed into the restaurant this morning. However we are still open and trading as we do 365 days a year.

"We had to block off part of the restaurant because of the mess and broken bricks so it has affected the restaurant.

"The gas company also came out earlier today and temporarily cut off the gas and made sure everything was safe.

"But the car had missed a gas pipe by only a few meters."

More to follow...