Driver crashes through the front of Oswaldtwistle Chinese restaurant (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Driver crashes through the front of Oswaldtwistle Chinese restaurant

10:00am Wednesday 28th December 2011 in Oswaldtwistle By Nazia Parveen, Reporter

SCENE The car crashed through the front of the Royal Phoenix

A DRIVER dramatically crashed through the front of a Chinese restaurant yesterday before fleeing the scene.

The Ford Mondeo, which witnesses said was being raced against another car at the time of the smash, was embedded in the front of the Royal Phoenix restaurant in Oswaldtwistle..

The driver climbed out of the car before getting in to a silver Mondeo and speeding off, bystanders said.

The Wong family, who run the restaurant in Union Road, had a lucky escape, as they were all upstairs at the time of the incident at 9.40am.

Witnesses said the blue Mondeo being driven by 'boy racers' sped around a corner before skidding and crashing through the front window.

Locals said the car was being driven by what appeared to be an underage boy and was being pursued by a silver Mondeo when the driver lost control coming round a bend in Frederick Street.

It careered into a metal fence before smashing through the large glass window of the restaurant and coming to a standstill just before the front counter.

Police are now hunting the hit-and-run yobs and are investigating whether the car was stolen.

The owner, Vinitta Wong, had been asleep above the restaurant with her husband, Joe, and three children, Isabelle, five, and two-year-old twins, Justin and Levi.

The 23-year-old, who has helped to run the family business for the past six years, said: "We were all asleep and we heard this almighty bang and there was a huge shudder before it went completely silent.

"We all ran downstairs and it was such a shock when we saw this car in the front of our restaurant.

"It was pretty scary as we thought someone had been seriously injured and the first thing we did was to check the car but there was no-one in it.

"People standing outside looked really shocked and they said it was some boy racers who lost control and they got into the other car before speeding off down the road."

Witnesses said that following the crash the young male driver of the blue Mondeo climbed out of the back window of the vehicle before limping into the silver Mondeo, which drove off down Union Road towards Blackburn Road.

Mr Wong, 27, whose extended family were also in the house at the time of the incident, said: "It was like an earthquake and the whole place shook when it hit.

"It was really terrifying but our main concern was if someone had been hurt in the car and we just got down and called the police and ambulance straight away.

"We got told that it was some young lads were driving the car and they were racing each other and one of them overtook before they lost control."

Vinitta's mother, Kelly Wong, 44, said the property had been full of family at the time of the crash as they had a get together to celebrate Christmas.

She said: "The whole place shook when it hit. It was really shocking and scary.

"We all feel really lucky as it could have been a lot worse and it would have been upsetting if someone had got hurt."

The family are now facing a huge repair bill for the damage and the restaurant will remain closed during the busy New Year period.

"It is going to cost thousands to repair but I guess it's just one of those things- I am just really pleased that nobody was seriously hurt and we are all very lucky." said Vinitta.

Police cordoned the area off following the crash before the blue Mondeo was towed away.

Detectives are investigating reports of whether the cars were stolen and have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Inspector Graham Marshall, said: "We received a call to say that a car had gone straight through the front window of the Royal Phoenix restaurant.

"It was quickly established that the persons had made off from the scene and we are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to come forward to assist us with our inquiries."

Anyone with any information can call Blackburn police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.