A WOMAN was rushed to hospital after a car smashed into a bank in Colchester.

Police, paramedics and fire crews were called to the HSBC branch in North Station Road after a car struck the front window.

Part of the road was closed while paramedics provided treatment with specialist teams called to the scene.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “An ambulance crew, rapid response vehicle, ambulance officer and hazardous area response team attended.

“A woman in her 50s had chest pain and was taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.

“A second patient, a man, was described as walking wounded, but did not require treatment.”

It is not known if the car had to swerve off the road to avoid another vehicle or whether the driver lost control.

Gazette: Mayhem down North Station Road as car crashes in HSBC

Essex Police attended and a force spokesman confirmed the driver of a Ford Mondeo has been reported for driving offences.

The car careered off the road onto the pavement before crashing into the large front window of the bank before bouncing off it and coming to a stop.

Fire crews helped to make the vehicle safe and ensured there was no fuel spill.

A spokesman for the bank said: “Our understanding of the situation is there was a road traffic collision and a vehicle mounted the pavement and crashed into the front of the branch.

“There was damage to one of the large windows and the brickwork.

“We were notified about the accident by the police at approximately 5.40pm.

“The branch was closed and none of the staff members were hurt in the incident.”