Car collides into Winchelsea Beach shop

A village shopkeeper has been left counting the cost after a car collided with his store, causing extensive damage inside.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th May 2017, 11:18 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:36 BST

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Suttons, Winchelsea Beach.Suttons, Winchelsea Beach.
Suttons, Winchelsea Beach.

Hugh Sutton, owner of Suttons wild game and fish shop in Sea Road, Winchelsea Beach, said the vehicle went through two people’s front gardens before crashing into the corner of his shop, leaving a trail of debris.

He said: “The car went through the corner of the shop and caused a hell of a lot of damage. Half the shop was damaged.

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“Two walls, as well as most of the front of the shop, were destroyed. I had no electricity, nor water nor telephone connection as a result. It was totally smashed up.”

Hugh said the incident happened just before 12.45am on May 2.

He added: “Police rang me up in the middle of the night to tell me what had happened. I was shocked.

“It’s not what you want to hear after a very busy weekend.”

Hugh is the brother of the late Jimper Sutton, who died last June and was the life president of Rye Bonfire Society.

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Hugh’s family have run the wild game and fish shop for more than 80 years, when Hugh’s father, Ernest opened the business in 1932.

Hugh took over the running of the shop in 1973.

He said architects had visited the shop since the incident on May 2 and added there was ‘still a lot of rebuilding to do’.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Police are investigating an incident in Sea Road, Winchelsea Beach, in which a silver Vauxhall Astra car collided with garden fencing and struck a nearby fishmonger’s shop shortly before 1am on Tuesday, May 2.

“The car was found to be empty. Police officers, assisted by a National Police Air Service helicopter and a dog handler, searched the area to try to locate the driver, but without success. No one was injured.

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“A 26-year-old Hastings man later attended Hastings police station and admitted being the driver.

“He has been reported for driving without due care and attention.”

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Related topics:PoliceSussex Police