THE DOORS to Liss Village Hall will be closed for most of June after a “runaway” car crashed into a wall.

The incident took place between 10am and 11am last Tuesday when a vehicle entered the Whistlestop car park “at speed”.

The car – allegedly driven by an elderly lady – knocked over the pub’s A-board before continuing into the corner of the car park and crashing into the far end of the hall.

The driver was not injured, according to a witness, who believes the owner’s walking stick may have caused the accelerator to jam.

The impact created multiple cracks in the hall’s brickwork and caused the base of the wall to move four inches off the building’s damp course.

Surveyors and gas engineers have examined the building in recent days as the room on the other side of the affected wall contains two boilers.

Staff at Liss Parish Council (LPC) have been checking the hall’s CCTV footage as the driver has not been in touch with either themselves or The Whistlestop.

“The impact moved the whole skin of the building and has caused severe cracks in the brickwork,” said a spokesman for LPC.

“It’s also damaged the interior walls, where our boilers are fixed.

“We’ve had to close the village hall because it’s going to take around three or four weeks to fix so some clubs aren’t able to run.”

Insurance will cover the cost of repairs but LPC will suffer a loss of income because of the accident and has been unable to find alternative premises for some users, like the Lunch Club.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident have been urged to contact LPC on 01730 892823.

Alternatively, email the council at clerk-smith@

lissparishcouncil.co.uk