A CAR crashed through the wall of a Clacton pub after its driver was apparently taken ill at the wheel.

Roddy Ashworth

A CAR crashed through the wall of a Clacton pub after its driver was apparently taken ill at the wheel.

The motorist was taken to hospital following yesterday's incident, while paramedics treated four pub customers at the scene.

The Chrysler MPV was in the car park of the Robin Hood in London Road at around 1.50pm when the vehicle seemingly went out of control, hit at least two other cars and crashed through a wall.

Firefighters sent to the scene had to make sure the building was not in danger of collapse before cutting off the door of the car and help the driver out. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, but details of his condition were unknown last night.

Sub-officer Jim Bowyer, of Clacton Fire Station, said: “The car went quite deeply into the pub. The gentleman driver had been taken ill, and I believe it was an automatic vehicle. It ricocheted off a couple of cars and then went into the pub.

“Four other people in the pub were handed over to care of the ambulance service. I think they were having a meal.”

A structural engineer was called to the Robin Hood, which is run by pub firm Mitchells and Butlers, to assess its safety.

A spokesman for the company said: “Four customers were treated by an ambulance crew at the scene and thankfully no one else was injured. The pub is currently closed for trading whilst we assess the damage to the building.”