Woman arrested after crash into The Wortwell Bell, Harleston

Punters at The Wortwell Bell near Harleston were enjoying their Friday evening drinks when a car smashed through the front of the building - causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Leaving the wrecked silver BMW, the driver ran away and fled the scene.

Ambulance, fire and police crews spent hours at the scene (Image: Simon Leggett)Following an investigation police arrested a woman in her 20s on suspicion of drink driving and dangerous driving.

Despite customers still being in the pub, none of them were hurt according to landlord Paul Holland.

Mr Holland said a community effort had allowed him to welcome customers just hours after the collision.

"Loads of locals came up to help - we had several guys here," he said.

Mr Holland took the pub on in February (Image: Bruno Brown)

"Once we'd moved the brickwork out of the bar and put a new stud wall up to board where the windows are, our cleaners had a ring around and a mob hand of cleaners came along to help too.

"The council was happy that we'd done enough to open - it just goes to show many hands make light work."

Mr Holland added the damage was "absolutely horrible" to see.

"It's such a shame - one of the really old timber frames will have to go from the early, listed part of the pub," he said. 

Parish councillor Lua Leggett was one of the first on scene (Image: Simon Leggett)

"We're all just so thankful nobody was killed because they really could have been."

The landlord explained five patrons were still on the premises at the time of the crash.

"We had two outside and three were left in," he said.

"There was one guy who normally sits outside on one of the benches but thankfully he just didn't that night."