A CAR spun out of control and smashed through the front of a Christchurch takeaway before speeding off.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused at the Baobao Oriental takeaway in Bargates in the crash, which happened in the early hours of Friday morning.

The large front window was smashed and a seating area and wall inside wrecked.

Owner Salina Lui is keeping the business open despite being unable to clear up the mess because police have not yet visited to carry out their inquiries.

Bournemouth Echo:

Now she has appealed for anyone with information to contact Dorset Police.

Salina, who opened the business 18 months ago, said: "I was on my way to Waitrose on Friday morning and as I drove past my business I could see it had been boarded up.

"At first I thought it was just the window smashed - things like that happen all the time - but I was shocked when I came inside.

"Police had secured the premises and said they would contact me but they haven't yet."

Bournemouth Echo:

She added: "The main thing is that no one was hurt. I've been told the car spun a long way down the road. If it had gone off the other side of the road it would have gone straight into people's living rooms."

She said the business was doing well before the start of the coronavirus pandemic and she was pleased to open again.

"It's only a small business so coronavirus was bad enough. It's going to take a long time to sort it out.

"If it was just the window it wouldn't be so bad but I'm going to have to have structural work done."

Bournemouth Echo:

The business operates as a takeaway but is so small it would only be able to seat two people at a time inside to comply with social distancing guidelines.