A driver has been condemned as “stupid and reckless” after crashing yards away from a high street pub.

The incident happened in Greenhithe High Street at around 7.30pm yesterday.

It is understood the vehicle, which demolished a brick-built planter before ploughing into a building close to the Pier Hotel pub, was being pursued by police when it crashed.

Barmaid Ashlea Frost was working at the pub when she says they heard a loud bang outside.

She says the car came to rest just a short distance away from a family who had just left the place and could have easily been hit.

“We heard a child screaming and we went outside,” she said.

“The car was literally inches from hitting the child. They had just had dinner and left the pub.

“It’s gone straight up the wall and hit the next-door neighbour’s house.”

Cllr Peter Harman, who lives near the scene, was alerted when police called at his home while informing residents a fugitive was in the area.

He said: “A car was being pursued by about five police cars.

“They came along the High Street, lost control and hit the building.

“The driver jumped out and ran off. One of the vehicles following had a police dog in the vehicle so they then got the dog out and tried to pursue the individual.

“The police rang my doorbell just to say that there was a fugitive on the run in that area.”

The vehicle that crashed wrecked the brick planter, but this meant the impact with the building was lessened and only caused minor damage.

Cllr Harman told KentOnline it was lucky that no one was hurt in the incident, as people would have been coming and going from the Pier Hotel on a Saturday night.

“There was slight damage to the building,” he said, “but it was very lucky that someone came out of the pub but they had just moved along when the car crashed.

“So they were very lucky not to get hit.

“I think it’s important to say how stupid and reckless the driver was to risk people’s lives like that. It was lucky no one was injured.”

Police have been contacted for comment.