A TAXI hit the front wall of a pub after it was involved in a collision with two other vehicles.

Three people suffered minor injuries in the incident in Yarm Road, Darlington, this evening (Sunday).

It is understood two of those injured were male passengers in the Mercedes minibus taxi which came to rest after colliding with the wall of Busters pub.

Police were dealing with a separate incident nearby at the time of the collision and were at the scene within seconds.

Inspector Nadim Khaliq, from Darlington police, said: “Three vehicles were involved in the road traffic collision – two private motor vehicles and a taxi.

“There were minor injuries suffered to three people and one person was arrested.

“It was quite fortune that officers were in the vicinity and were at the scene very quickly.

“They were dealing with an unrelated incident.”

Rick Akin, landlord of Busters, said: “We were in the kitchen and all we heard was 'boom, boom'.

“Luckily, two customers had left the pub 30 seconds earlier and were in the doorway of the Albion pub further up the road when the accident happened – they could have been hit.”

He added: “The police were further up the road. They were talking to four people in a white Toyota Hilux.”

The other vehicles involved in a collision were a Ford Focus and a Mazda hatchback.

The road was closed while police and paramedics worked at the scene.