'The whole village pulled together' - repairs to devastated pub complete

David Brady, landlord at The Alma, in Copford, emerged from the kitchen at around 8.30am to find a pickup truck parked inside his pub.

CCTV footage captured the truck reversing clean through a wall, smashing through a window and sending bricks flying.

The Grade II listed pub, which was built in 1860, was due to open at midday.

After a monumental clean-up effort, management did not delay.

“We checked the tills and they show we served a pint at 12.01pm,” said David.

“The problem was the pint still had a bit of dust in it from the truck kicking up all this debris.”

Destroyed - the truck smashed clean through a front wall

David took on the pub in October after becoming besotted with the village and its people.

“We initially rented a house round here, went in the pub and that was it, I was sold,” he said.

“You’ve got to have a good pub and within two weeks I knew everyone around here.

“It’s so picturesque round here and this pub is the jewel in the crown.”

The pub’s place as a focal point for Copford was exemplified by residents’ reaction to news of the crash.

Dozens of well-wishers, including builders, went out of their way to make temporary repairs, including propping up the wall and installing lintels to make the pub safe.

“The girls that work here turned up and made teas, coffees and bacon rolls, someone in the village made sausage rolls,” said David.

“Even the kids were trying to sweep up, everyone was doing whatever they could to help.

“It was deemed as an attack on the village, it was like a terrorist attack of sorts on the village.

“I don’t really think of myself of the landlord, more the current caretaker.

“I may have my name above the door but you’ve got to look after it and do what you can for it in period of time you have it.”

The pub’s manager Michelle Ketley recalls the call she received from David as he stood amongst the wreckage that morning.

She said: “I thought ‘he knows got 26 people round for dinner tomorrow, he wants to give me a Christmas present or something.’

“When I saw what had happened I couldn't believe it.

"It obviously shook David up, but you see people pulling together like this and it makes you emotional anyway.

“I worked here for previous landlord as well and it’s such a special place.”

Packed - the pub was full later on Christmas Eve

Works to repair the pub, which cost tens of thousands of pounds, were paid for by owners Greene King and were finished earlier this week.

Following the crash a 57-year-old man from Colchester was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of firearms offences.

He remains on bail until March 23.