Pub quiz went ahead after van smashed into The Crown Inn, Catshill

A white Ford van was driven through the front of The Crown Inn pub in Stourbridge Road, Catshill, just after 7pm last night (Wednesday, April 25).

Pub manager Tony Rees told the Advertiser: "There was a very loud bang and when I looked up a van had come through the front wall and taken out the bay window.

"We're very fortunate there was no one sat by the window at the time.

"Wednesday is normally pool night so the pool table near that window is usually surrounded by 10 or 12 people at that time.

"Luckily there was no match on last night. I dread to think what could have happened."

Despite the crash causing significant damage to the pub's outside and inside wall, staff at the Crown Inn were back serving drinks just 50 minutes later - and the scheduled pub quiz went ahead as planned.

"I'm very proud of our manager Samantha Graham and the rest of our staff and how they dealt with everything," said Tony.

"They were very calm and I'm very grateful to our patrons and our regulars for being so supportive.

"We were up and running again within 50 minutes and the pub quiz started 15 minutes late.

"It was a perfect example of good Catshill village spirit."

The Crown Inn is now open as usual, and the hole in the front of the building has been boarded up.

Builders have been on site this morning to assess the damage.

The same van involved in the crash is thought to have knocked a cyclist off his bike on the A38 Rubery Bypass just moments earlier, but failed to stop.

Emergency services were called to the scene near Callowbrook Lane just after 7pm, and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene, but stood down en route.

The cyclist suffered minor arm and leg injuries.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "We were called at 7.17pm last night to a report of a car colliding with a pub on Stourbridge Road, Catshill.

"Fire and ambulance service were also in attendance. There were no reported injuries.

"Police were then called at 7.22pm to report of a collision between a van and a cyclist on Callowbrook Lane, Rednal, which was believed to have taken place shortly before 7.10pm.

"The van failed to stop at the scene. The cyclist sustained minor injuries.

"Both incidents are currently being treated as linked."

An 18-year-old man from Bromsgrove was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink/drugs and failing to stop.

An 18-year-old man from Stourport was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink/drugs and a 47-year-old man from Bromsgrove was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drunk/drugs and criminal damage.

All three remain in police custody this afternoon.

Witnesses who've not yet been spoken to by police are asked to call 101, quoting 0672s for the Rubery incident or 0663s for the Catshill crash.