MUSIC venue chiefs are facing a damages bill of thousands of pounds after a driver crashed their vehicle into the side of the building.

Staff at The Rockhouse in London Street were shocked when just after 3am on Wednesday, September 5, they saw the beaming headlights of a car heading directly towards them.

Billy Duffy and Dan Wardrop had just finished their shift at the bar when the incident happened.

Billy said: “When the last customer left, me and Dan sat out the front having a break and [the driver] came driving up the road, turned around and pulled up next to the barriers.

“Before I could finish my sentence [they] accelerated and missed me and Dan by about a foot. We were both shocked that [they’d] actually done it, I didn’t move while they were driving forward because I truly thought they were just making an empty threat, but they weren’t.”

The two staff members were left shaking after the near miss and swiftly called the police.

The bill to repair damage to a set of railings, signs and the exterior wall of the listed building is estimated to be around £6,000.

When Tony Noakes, owner of The Rockhouse, saw the CCTV footage of the incident, his response was: “What a doughnut, that’s my comment.

“It also highlights the fact it should be properly pedestrianised, not pretend pedestrianised up here.

“I’m not angry. I’ve got far more important things to be worried and angry about. I would have been angry if the staff were hurt, that would have been different.”

n Hampshire Constabulary has arrested and charged a man in connection with the incident.

Dean Toomer, 37, of Watson Acre, Andover, has been charged with criminal damage and drink driving.

He has been bailed to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on September 20.