A LORRY driver had a lucky escape after his vehicle “flew” into the side of a west Cumbrian pub.

The Griffin Inn, in Frizington, had an unexpected visit from Warburtons yesterday, as a lorry delivering bread to the shop next door drove into the side of the building.

The Warburtons employee, a man in his 50s, was delivering bread to the Premier Store next door, when the lorry was hurled into the pub’s toilets.

He suffered minor injuries.

Pub landlord Tim Molloy was shocked when he heard a crash at around 9am, and went downstairs to find the pub wall caved in by the lorry, and the driver stuck in the cab.

“I thought his legs would be smashed up, but luckily the wall had completely given way and saved the cab from trapping him too badly,” Tim said.

It is understood the incident happened after the lorry’s accelerator got jammed.

Frizington Fire Service safely released the man from the cab, and paramedics took him to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven to be treated for minor injuries.

The shocked landlord added: “Thankfully nobody was in the pub or in the car park at the time, so nobody was hurt, and I’m just glad the driver’s alright.

“The toilets are badly damaged, but it’s just bricks and mortar at the end of the day.”

Imran Khan, from Premier Store, was shaken by the event, and called the fire service and ambulance as soon as he saw what had happened: “The driver and I were both shaking, but he was in his senses and seemed okay, and that’s all that matters.”

Staff at the shop gave the driver a cup of tea while they waited with him for the ambulance to arrive.

“He’s a very good man, and a very good driver,” Imran added. “We all hope he recovers quickly, and will really miss him if he decides to stop delivering bread now.”

The Griffin is unsure how long they will be closed for, but say the customer toilets have been “demolished,” and were expecting a visit from a Warburtons manager later in the day.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called at 9:03am this morning (2nd August), to the report of a road traffic collision on Main Street, Frizington. The collision involved a delivery truck colliding with the wall of a public house.

“Police, fire and rescue and ambulance attended the scene. The driver, a man in his 50s was taken to West Cumberland Hospital with minor injuries.”

Following the incident, Frizington Fire Station shared details of the rescue on Facebook: “Different kind of shout this morning – delivery wagon into back of local pub driver trapped in cab.

“Front of vehicle suspended with wheels off the ground. Driver injuries assessed and vehicle stabilised using StabFast, chocks and appliance winch.”