Man is arrested after car ploughs into pub crowd
AMAN has been arrested after a car ploughed into people outside a pub in the early hours.
Gwent Police received reports of the incident, which happened outside the Royal Oak pub in George Street, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, at around 1.05am on Saturday.
One woman was injured in the collision, which also caused extensive damage to railings outside the pub.
She was taken to hospital but has since been discharged. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.
The incident was captured on CCTV.
In the footage, a car is seen to drive towards a group of pedestrians at speed and collide with one person, before crashing into railings outside the premises.
On Saturday, the Royal Oak posted on Facebook: “Due to an incident involving a car outside the pub late last night, we have received some serious damage to the entrance of our property.
“We have completed a full health and safety risk assessment today and cannot safely open the pub until the damage is fixed.
“Thank you for the recommendations of welders, we have one sorted now.
“We try our absolute best to make sure The Oak is a safe environment for all of our guests.”
The pub has now reopened and the licensee thanked all the customers who helped.
A spokesman for the pub said: “We want to pass on our best wishes to the lady hurt in the incident. She was and remains to be our first priority. We have been in constant contact and will do all we can to help her.
“The event has shook us as a pub, as we work hard to ensure a safe and friendly environment for all our customers, old and new.
“We want to thank each and every person who helped us.
“This is the type of community spirit we have, and we are so grateful to each of them for helping to contain the situation.”
A Gwent Police spokesman said: “We received a report of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian outside the Royal Oak pub in George Street, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, on Saturday, January 29, shortly before 1.05am.
“A woman attended hospital for treatment but has since been discharged. Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
“A 30-year-old man from Pontypool was arrested on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
“He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.”