Driver Arrested After Car Hits Bollard In Ryde Town Centre

A man has been arrested after a car mounted the pavement and uprooted a bollard in the centre of Ryde.

Police were called to St Thomas' Square shortly after 4pm yesterday afternoon (Tuesday), following reports of a collision near the pedestrian crossing outside The Crown Hotel.

The 63-year-old driver had been travelling in a green and black Toyota Aygo when the vehicle came around the bend from Cross Street and left the road.

The car ended up on the pavement, hitting a bollard designed to protect pedestrians waiting to cross and prevent vehicles from mounting or parking on the pavement.

People at the scene helped move the damaged car into a nearby loading bay.

However, concerns were raised about the driver's condition, with witnesses reporting that he appeared to be intoxicated.

The driver then went into The Crown Hotel after the vehicle could no longer be started.

Four police units attended, with officers entering the pub and arresting the man.

He's being held on suspicion of drink driving, criminal damage and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Island Roads was also called to deal with the damage.

Crews cleared debris from the pavement and filled the hole left by the uprooted bollard.

A replacement bollard will be installed at a later date.