Two police officers were injured today when they were dragged along beside a car which was making off during a drugs search.

The pair of male officers received minor injuries after approaching the motorist at the Shell filling station on Old Road in Clacton this afternoon while he was filling his car with fuel.

During the search for drugs at around 3.30pm, the driver of the car attempted to escape by speeding off, dragging the officers alongside.

The silver Audi A6 (pictured) was then driven into the petrol station building, causing considerable damage.

A structural engineer was sent to the station to assess the damage caused by the crash.

A 40-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested at the scene, both are from the local area and have been taken into custody by officers at the local police station.

The car has been recovered by police for a forensic examination and search.

John Barry, from Clacton, arrived at the station after the event. He said he saw a man being held to the ground by police and a woman screaming, with the car driven through the front door of the filling station.

A spokesman for Shell said they didn’t know how long it would take to get the station open and running again and added that they were co-operating with the police investigation.

The manager of the station did not wish to comment.