A PUB landlord is in a state of ‘utter shock’ after a man ploughed his car into the beer garden of his premises in a blind rage, causing thousands of pounds-worth of damage.

In an incident caught on CCTV on Monday evening, the driver of a Renault convertible can be seen repeatedly smashing his car into the garden of the Craven Heifer Inn, in Darwen, demolishing the fence and damaging tables and chairs.

Customers at the pub can also be seen running into the pub after briefly watching on in horror.

Landlord Daniel Sumner said that staff and customers watched on in total shock as the man went on his tirade after being refused a drink at the bar.

He said: “We just can’t believe what has happened, this kind of thing doesn’t happen in this pub.

“The gentleman came into the pub in the early evening and had a few pints at the bar,” said Mr Sumner.

“When he started to become a nuisance staff asked him to leave the premises but he refused to.

“He became aggressive towards the barmaid and the chef came out of the kitchen to asked him to leave, but he wasn’t listening to anybody.

“In the end one of our regulars shoved him out of the fire exit to get him out of the pub.”

But nobody was expecting what would happen next.

The man crossed the car park of the Craven Heifer before getting into a black Renault car, and in a fit of rage began smashing the vehicle through the fence which surrounds the beer garden.

Much of the outdoor furniture was damaged in the process, causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.

Luckily, the wet evening had deterred people from sitting outside, meaning there weren’t many in the beer garden at the time.

Mr Sumner, who has been landlord of the pub for four years, said: “Had it been 24 hours earlier it could have been so much worse.

“At the same time on Sunday evening there were between 20-30 people sat outside enjoying the sunshine, so in a way it’s a blessing that it was raining,” Mr Sumner added.

Police have charged a 30-year-old man with drink-driving and he is due to appear in Blackburn Magistrates Court.