STRUCTURAL engineers are assessing damage caused to the front wall of The Bell pub at Broad Hinton after a car crashed into it on Tuesday.

Two men from the Swindon area were arrested on suspicion of aggravated taking without consent after the crash.

Licensees Paul and Kerry Mead were in the bar, which was empty at the time, when the car careered across the forecourt and smashed a wooden seat, a garden umbrella and a flower tub at about 12.50pm.

Mr and Mrs Mead took over the pub about seven months ago and are waiting for their brewery Punch Taverns to carry out a major refit.

They plan to re-establish the rundown pub as one of the premier eating places in the area as it formerly was.