Steamroller crashes into pub in Dorset

A steam traction engine came off worse when it crashed into the corner of a pub in Dorset at the weekend.

With the Dorset Beer Festival taking place, there were a number of steam vehicles on display in Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck, according to the Bournemouth Echo.

But one driver obviously didn't want to get stuck behind this slow-moving vehicle, and pulled out right in front of it, causing it to swerve into the 16th century Bankes Arms Hotel's pub, the Bankes Arms.

Eye witness Nick Squirrell, a conservation advisor for Natural England, told The Sun: "I saw the aftermath of the accident. The guy said he was driving down the hill and somebody pulled out in front of him, probably thinking the steamroller was travelling too slow.

"The operator said his option was to go straight into the back of the car and crush it, or swerve."

The manager of the Grade II-listed hotel told the Bournemouth Echo: "I was over the other side when it happened and wondered why everything started to shake.

"Fortunately it was only some of the stonework chipped and broken, and no-one was injured, that's the main thing.

"It was a bit of excitement for a Sunday afternoon."

Dorset police said the steamroller had come off worse than the Bankes Hotel in the incident.

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