Man arrested after van crashes into five homes

A man has been arrested after a van crashed into several residential properties that then had to be evacuated due to a gas leak.

Emergency services were called to reports of a collision at about 23:30 GMT on Wednesday in Kessingland High Street, Kessingland, near Lowestoft.

Five properties were damaged and a teenage boy, who lived in one of the homes, had to be assessed by paramedics after suffering minor injuries.

Suffolk Police officers arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and failing to stop or report a crash.

"He was taken to hospital for assessment before being transported to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he remains," a police spokesperson added.

According to gas provider Cadent, engineers were sent to the scene after reports that a vehicle had struck a gas service pipe and the gas meter to a property.

"Working alongside the other emergency services, we were able to stop the gas escape and completed a temporary repair in the early hours of this morning," a spokesperson said.

"The gas supply to the property will be restored once the damage to the building has been completed."

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