Teen hurt as car hits pub

A teenager was today airlifted to hospital after the car she was in crashed into the front of a north Shropshire pub.

The Renault Clio smashed into a brick planter before colliding with the porch of the Talbot Inn in Market Drayton. The teenager had to be cut free from the vehicle by firefighters.

She was rushed to hospital by the Midlands Air Ambulance with facial injuries and lower back and hip pain after the accident, which happened at about 8.25am.

The female driver, who managed to get out of the car, was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital by land ambulance.

Dave Swanston-Richards, one of the licensees at the pub, described how he heard a car coming across the bridge followed by "a very loud impact".

He added: "A brick built planter on the front has been demolished. A column that supports the front porch has been knocked out of place and is lying on the floor.

"The other pillar has been dislodged and a picnic table has been completely obliterated. It looks worse than it is, I believe. More importantly, both people in the car left the scene alive."

Mr Swanston-Richards said the pub would be open today and added: "It's just a miracle nobody was more seriously hurt as we are right next to a bus stop.

"It's really lucky nobody was waiting for a bus."

Richard Ewels, police spokesman said: "A passenger has been taken by air ambulance to the North Staffordshire University Hospital in Stoke.

"The driver, which is a woman, was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital. The vehicle is being recovered."