A DRIVER escaped serious injury after his car ploughed into the front of a pub.

The 29-year-old man, believed to be from the Bishop Auckland area, suffered only minor injuries in the accident in the early hours of Monday.

Shocked landlord of the Fir Tree Inn, Lawrie Stewart, 56, said that he and wife Margaret, 57, were asleep in bed when the accident happened.

He said: "There was a loud bang and I thought it was thunder and then the burglar alarm went off because the impact forced the fire door open at the other end of the restaurant.

"I rushed downstairs and found a big motor parked in my living room.''

Police are investigating the incident but people living in the small village of Fir Tree, near Crook, were mystified as to how the Mercedes Vaneo had caused so much damage.

Mr Stewart said: "It has gone in where all the locals sit and if it had happened when we were open people would definitely have been killed.

Mr and Mrs Stewart are now waiting to find out when and how the damage can be repaired but have vowed that it is business as usual.

Mr Stewart said: "There is thousands of pounds worth of damage and we are worried about the effect on the business. We will remain open.

"We have been here 20 months and we are starting to get a good reputation for food. People come from all over.

"We are devastated because we have just spent a lot of money decorating the place. This has just floored us totally."

Police said that a man was later arrested and released on bail.