Warrington: Car crashing into busy restaurant 'like a bomb' - owner

A restaurant owner has said the moment a car ploughed into the front of his business was "like a bomb" going off.

Gultekin Polat said people had been sitting at the window at Rokka Bar & Grill in Warrington only moments before the silver Jaguar hit the restaurant at about 21:35 GMT on Friday.

He described "glass flying" and "people screaming" but no-one was hurt.

A man, 31, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and released under investigation, police said.

Firefighters and paramedics also attended the scene on Warrington Road in the Culcheth area.

The driver of the car was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Mr Polat said there had been about 40 customers and 15 staff in the restaurant at the time of the crash.

"We had people sitting at those tables where the car crashed earlier in the evening. Some had only left at around 21:20," he said.

"I don't care about the money or the business.

"I am just very happy that no-one was hurt or injured."

Mr Polat said it would cost about £60,000 to repair the damage, but he hoped to be back open in time for Valentine's Day on Wednesday.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said a 31-year-old man from Warrington had been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and "released pending further enquiries".

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said structural safety checks were carried out and tests for gas leaks came back negative.

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