Onlookers survey the damage after a Canterbury Cathedral volunteer lost control of his car

by Gerry Warren

A volunteer at Canterbury Cathedral has crashed his car into the crypt, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

The accident happened when the pensioner lost control of a BMW in the precincts and careered across the lawn into the building.

The car collided with the stonework and a stained glass window of the Black Prince's Chantry and the damage is now being assessed by experts.

Tiler Paul Weston, 56, of Reed Avenue, Canterbury, who was visiting the cathedral with his six-year-old grandson, Alfie, took a photograph of the scene shortly after the collision.

He said: "There weren't many people about because it was only about 10am.

"But I never expected to see anything like that. I can only guess the poor chap's foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator.

"A few people went to his aid, including the security staff and he was taken off in an ambulance. But it looked like the car had done quite a bit of damage."

Cathedral spokesman Chris Robinson said: "It was a very unfortunate incident for the gentleman involved who is a volunteer.

"We are not quite sure how it happened and no one can recall anything similar.

"The main thing is that no one was hurt although the driver was understandably a bit shaken up.

"The damage is being examined by our stonemasons and glass restorers, but it is not to a part of the cathedral which has recently been restored.

"It could be thousands of pounds, but is something that will ultimately have to be dealt with by the insurance companies."