A car has crashed into an 18th century pub in Bradford on Avon this morning.

Fire crews from Bradford, a damage control unit from Warminster and the gas board, are at the scene of the crash at the Castle Inn, in Mount Pleasant.

There are fears about the safety of the building after a 4x4, which was being driven by a woman learner driver, rammed into the left hand side of the pub at about 9.30am.

The driver was unharmed and there was minimal damage to the 4x4, but a hole, about 8ft sq, has been left in the wall above the cellar.

The stretch of road between the Sladesbrook and Masons Lane roundabouts has been sealed off by police while the damage is surveyed.

Manager, Nick Hanson, said: "The first I heard about it was when I got a call. I wasn't due in until 10am.

"I thought initially it would be a bit of a prang, but it was much worse than I thought."

The Castle Inn underwent a makeover in 2007 after being taken over by the Flatcappers chain.

The pub is due to reopen on Saturday.