POLICE, a publican and a member of the public escaped serious injury when a patrol car crashed at high speed into a pub.

The car, on an emergency call, with blue lights flashing and its siren blaring, was travelling down Mayplace Road West in the centre of Bexleyheath, just yards from Bexleyheath police station, on Thursday morning.

It collided with a red Vauxhall Corsa driven by a member of the public who was turning right into Forresters Crescent.

The police car, containing two officers, then mounted the pavement, sending the pavement-mounted 15ft high oak pole, holding the pub sign, crashing forwards, smashing the pub lights and guttering, before it came to rest against a top-floor window.

Another pub sign was sent flying through the pub toilets window and its giant flower pots were scattered and smashed across the pavement.

After flattening the road sign, the police car ended up partly embedded in the pub wall.

Miraculously no-one was injured. The two officers and the man driving the other car only suffered shock and minor injuries and all declined hospital treatment.

Jolly Millers manager David Fairholme, 55, had yet to open up for the day when the crash happened at 11.40am.

He was just switching on the pub's fruit machines when he heard three huge bangs and went outside to see what had happened.

He said: "I thought I'd won the jackpot."

He was confronted by the devastation and had to set about clearing the broken glass, pots and crushed plants from outside and inside the pub.

The oak pole and sign were taken away and will be replaced next week. He said: "Fortunately, there was no structural damage and we have been able to open up as usual."

Gino Diambrosio, who owns the Ace Computers shop opposite, also heard the commotion and went outside to see if he could help. He provided coffee to the shocked Corsa driver.

He said: "The man was really shaken, but not physically hurt. But one of the police officers was holding his arm."

Bexleyheath police confirmed the details of the accident, which is now under investigation by the vehicle collision unit based at the police's traffic garage in Catford.