A car which crashed while being followed by police destroyed a village memorial.

Two teenagers were taken to hospital after the accident at 3.30am Wednesday on the A2 at Teynham.

The car, which has since been reported stolen following a burglary, was being followed by police after it failed to stop for officers.

It hit a line of parked vehicles and destroyed the village memorial, which is an old drinking trough.

Both occupants, in their late teens were taken to the Medway Maritime Hospital with leg and neck injuries.

Phil Clements, landlord of the Dover Castle which is opposite where the car crashed, was woken by the noise.

“It was so loud I thought at first someone was trying to break into the pub,” he said.

“I looked out of the window and the police were already there trying to get the people out of the car."

Mr Clements, 50, who has been at the pub 14 years, added: “This is the worst accident I have seen."

The accident has been reported to the Independent Police Commission.