RESIDENTS have described how they heard “a big bang” after a car crashed into a vacant estate agents in Colchester.

Police had been led on a dramatic car chase on Saturday night at 11.20pm after officers spotted a car which was believed to be stolen in Cowdray Avenue.

After the vehicle failed to stop for officers, a pursuit followed involving the National Police Air Service helicopter.

The car eventually crashed into a lettings agent called Property Street, which is in Wimpole Road, Colchester.

The main part of the building that the car crashed into was boarded up, but as of Monday morning, there were still shards of glass and pieces of car debris on the Magdalen Street pavement.

Gazette: Damaged – there was still smashed glass and pieces of car on the pavement Damaged – there was still smashed glass and pieces of car on the pavement (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

More smashed glass was inside the letting agent, which lies empty and is currently available for lease via Boyden’s Estate Agents.

One neighbour said: “A friend told me all about it, and he said it was chaos – there were lights everywhere and all sorts.”

Another neighbour said they heard “a big bang”.

Councillor Sam McLean, who represents New Town and Christ Church ward, said: “Thankfully, from the information I have, no innocent or bystander was physically injured in the chase.”