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Sandwich: Bus hits Market Inn pub on New Street

A bus heading to Canterbury took a wrong turn this afternoon when it crashed into a pub.

The Market Inn in Sandwich was hit by the number 14 Stagecoach bus around 4.30pm.

Jamie Cavell, whose parents Stephen and Tracey run the Cattle Market inn, explained the damage that had been done.

The sign lying on the pavement amongst the rubble
The sign lying on the pavement amongst the rubble

"Two buses hit it actually. The first came along and scraped it but there was no damage done so it drove off, but the second hit it hard.

"My mum went down when the first bus hit and had just gone back upstairs when it happened. She said there was a loud bang and the whole building shook."

The bus has ripped the sign for the pub from the wall, and there are also cracks in interior walls and the ceiling.

Tracey and Stephen Cavell are the landlady and landlord of The Market Inn. Picture: Shepherd Neame
Tracey and Stephen Cavell are the landlady and landlord of The Market Inn. Picture: Shepherd Neame

This damage has forced the Cavells, who have been running the pub since July 2015, to close the restaurant area. The bar remains open.

The incident has also closed the Cattle Market between Moat Sole and Whitefriars Meadow.

The double-decker was removed shortly after 7.30pm.

The devastation after the bus hit.
The devastation after the bus hit.

Police were called around 4.30pm to the incident involving the number 14 service, but no injuries were reported.

Jamie believes the buses hit the building due to another bus being at a stop on the other side of the road.

"The road isn't that narrow, two cars can get through easily, but I think the bus was trying to squeeze past another one that had stopped on the other side of the road.

There is now a huge hole in the wall where the sign once was.
There is now a huge hole in the wall where the sign once was.

"We don't have a lot of accidents down this street but the buses do have issues.

"It's a shame we don't have CCTV on the outside of the building otherwise we could see what happened properly."

Stagecoach has been approached for comment.

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