A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after ploughing into the side of All Saints’ Church on Sutton Road in Southend late on Monday night, causing significant damage to the building.
The collision left part of the church’s Thomas Smith Hall unsafe, with a large hole smashed through the brickwork wall.
Local residents living in the Queensway tower blocks reported hearing a “huge bang” before looking out to see the aftermath. A red car, being driven by the alleged drunk driver, is believed to have veered off Sutton Road and crashed directly into the wall of the church.
Two police units were dispatched to the incident, which happened at around 10.15pm, who cordoned off an area of Sutton Road as a precaution.
The crash happened close to the ongoing major roadworks at Queensway, an area already subject to temporary traffic restrictions.
On Tuesday morning, the affected section of the building had been boarded up. However the church team have been left shocked by the incident, as assessments continue on the extent and costs of the damage.
A spokesperson for Essex Police said:
“We were called to reports of a single-vehicle collision in Sutton Road, Southend, at about 10.25pm on Monday 19 January. It was reported a car had been involved in a collision with a building in the street, leaving it damaged.
“A 56-year-old man from Southend was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving. Our enquiries are ongoing.”
The historic church sits on a busy route into the town, and the incident has prompted fresh concern among residents about safety in the area, particularly with nearby roadworks already altering traffic flow.