A CO-OWNER of a popular Monmouth tapas restaurant had an early morning wake-up call last Wednesday morning as a car drove straight through her window.

Jackie Keeley was stood in The Fat Cock and Swan, on St James' Street, when a woman drove head on into her restaurant at 9.30am.

She said: "I didn't think it was real – it was absolutely terrifying. The woman crossed the bridge and drove straight on towards the town but instead of turning off at the t-junction, went through the front of the restaurant."

Fire fighters were quickly on the scene to cut the woman out of her car and she was taken to Neville Hall Hospital for a cut leg.

"It was a miracle she and nobody else weren't badly injured," Jackie added. "I think it helped she was driving a newish car as it took the impact. I have been told she is recovering well in hospital – which is good."

Despite the damage, which requires major repair work, the tapas bar is continuing to trade.

She added: "We had the structural engineer come out who surveyed the building and made it safe so we can continue trading. I wouldn't like to guess the cost of the damage but it's in the thousands. The front of the restaurant is boarded up but inside it is still very much business as usual. The main thing is that nobody was seriously injured."

The road was closed whilst the vehicle was recovered. Firefighters left the scene by 10.25am.