Bridge: The gap

5:39pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A CHEPSTOW landmark has been left with a gaping hole in it after a car smashed into it and drove off.

The bridge over the River Wye at the bottom of Bridge Street is now marked with blue and white police tape following the incident last week.

Chepstow Police received a phone call from staff at the Bridge Inn at around 9.30pm on Wednesday. They were told a vehicle had smashed into the bridge and driven off towards Tutshill. Craig Worthy, owner of Afon Gwy Hotel was behind the bar at the time of the incident but customers sitting out the front of the pub saw the car speed past.

Mr Worthy said: "They saw a car coming down the hill on Bridge Street doing about 60 or 65mph as they went past The Three Tuns. It went straight through the traffic lights and started to lose its back end as it went round the corner.

"It skidded across the road, hit the curb on the right-hand-side and went through the railings on the other side. It managed to reverse out and sped off."

The car apparently had a blown tyre and was leaking oil and its front bumper had been ripped off. The skid marks are still visible on the road. Police said no witnesses had been able to provide details and CCTV is being checked for more information. But it is known the car was a Vauxhall.

Due to the damage at the front-end of the car, it should be recognisable and details of the incident have been passed over to Gloucestershire Police.