Owner's shock after van hits restaurant

A RESTAURANT owner was left "speechless" when he saw a van had smashed into its front window.

As reported on www.thisiscleethorpes.co.uk a van crashed through the front of Indigos Indian Restaurant at about 6.50am yesterday.

One of the managers, who did not want to be named, described how he went to see his restaurant after the burglar alarm triggered his mobile phone, only to find it badly damaged.

He said: "The alarm at Indigos is connected to my mobile and I received a call at the moment it happened.

"I though we might have been burgled.

"However, when I went to the restaurant, I saw police, fire engines and an ambulance.

"A van had smashed through the front of the restaurant.

"The brickwork has gone and all the tables and chairs have been destroyed.

"Fortunately, the kitchens have not been affected."

He said he had spent the past three-and-a-half years since taking over the restaurant carefully building its reputation to compete with other well- established Indian restaurants in the Market Place.

He said: "When we took it over, we ripped everything out and refurbished it.

"So when I saw what had happened, I just didn't want to talk to anyone.

"You become speechless when you see that done to all your hard work."

He said although the restaurant had suffered severe damage, it would be able to resume its takeaway service within the next couple of days.

He said a man was arrested on the scene within minutes of the incident.

Humberside Police, however, were unavailable to confirm the details at the time of going to press.