Two held after car crashes into restaurant

Two men were arrested today after a car being pursued by police crashed into a restaurant full of diners.

Two men were arrested today after a car being pursued by police crashed into a restaurant full of diners.

Officers said no-one was seriously injured when the Vauxhall Calibra car drove through the glass front of the restaurant shortly before 2.30pm in Co Fermanagh.

However, there were local reports that ambulances called to the Tullana On The Green restaurant in the village of Lisnarick, near Enniskillen, took two people to hospital.

Diners reported witnessing the restaurant windows shatter as the vehicle rammed the front of the premises as about 50 people ate inside the building.

"I was sitting with my right-hand side to where the car came though the window," said diner Craig Woods.

"There was a massive bang and we saw the rafters coming down from the roof and a couple of posts that were holding up parts of the roof came down over one of the tables.

"The glass just completely shattered over everybody.

"We looked round and saw a car through the window. The car didn't actually hit anyone, thankfully."

Two men were said to have been seen leaving the car.

Police have confirmed a 21-year-old and a 26-year-old have been arrested and are helping officers with their inquiries.

Police said the car had failed to stop for officers in the Irvinestown Road area of Enniskillen at about 2pm.

A spokesman said: "Police followed the vehicle and the driver increased his speed and made off.

"A short time later police again observed the vehicle near Castlearchdale before it collided into restaurant premises in Lisnarick."

Police appealed to anyone who spotted the vehicle travelling from the Irvinestown Road area to Lisnarick, or anyone who witnessed the collision, to contact them.

Mr Woods told the BBC that the diners were in a state of shock after the incident.

PA