Pub landlady Simone Fellows says she is thankful nobody was injured after a lorry demolished a bench in Keswick town centre.
Simone, who runs The Lion, in Market Square, watched in amazement as the lorry smashed into the slate and wood bench outside her premises.
She said it was fortunate nobody was sitting on the bench when the lorry smashed into it last week.
It is one of four similar benches in that area. Several have electricity power boxes stored underneath them, including this one.
“I was sat in the front window and watched it happen,” said Simone.
“The guy was delivering beer to the Pack Horse (pub) and was obviously not familiar.
“From his height in the cab, he looked like he couldn’t see the bench. He just hoycked the whole lorry to the left and I thought ‘you are not going to make that’.”
The lorry driver had come on to Market Square from Derwent Close and driven up towards the pedestrian entrance to Pack Horse Court before the accident happened outside the Boots store.
He was delivering beer for Robinsons Brewery, of Stockport, Cheshire.
Simone added: “He knocked the box off which has the mains electricity to the square underneath and he tried to pick up the electric box! He also tried to move two massive pieces of slate and wood. He was kerfuffled.
“Thankfully, no-one was in the square or sat on the bench.
“Half an hour later, I walked to the cafe and the square was full of people. Thank God we have got a 10am deadline for deliveries. I saw some tourists sitting on the other bench later in the day.”
The bench has now been fenced off after the incident was reported to Cumbria County Council.
Lorries are able to deliver to businesses on Market Square up to 10am, as in this case, after which the area becomes pedestrianised.
