Residents describe moment car hit Westfield Fisheries shop

A pile of bricks and debris can be seen outside the boarded-up entrance to Westfield Fisheries, found on Westfield Avenue in Yeadon, today.

West Yorkshire Police responded to reports of a crash and extensive damage to the building around 10.17pm on Saturday.

The driver and passenger of the car were left with minor injuries.

It sparked a road closure into the early hours as police cordoned off the A65 from Greenlea Avenue to Whackhouse Lane.

Meanwhile police held an emergency evacuation at six homes closest to the broken gas pipe.

One mum told how her family was tucked up in bed before hearing a “loud bang”.

“A police car was driving by and they stopped while I was on the phone to them,” her son, who works at Westfield Fisheries, said.

The mum of three, who has lived on the street since childhood, said: “There was a loud bang and another loud bang. We were all like, what was that?

"We got up and we’ve seen the car in the fish shop, phoned the police. They already knew.

“There was a male driver and female passenger. The male driver got out. The passenger door creaked as someone tried to open it. She got out. They were both fine, no injuries."

Pointing to her son, she said: “He was working yesterday. He finished at seven, all as normal. We heard this crash, bang, wallop.

"It was quite scary. Imagine it was an hour earlier, what if somebody had been walking by? There’s a lot of people who walk to the petrol station. Especially when the police came and told us it broke a gas main and we needed to leave. You don’t expect it.

“My partner works nights and he had to come down. We were lucky we had somewhere to go. I was trying to not to panic but I’ve got three boys at home. My middle son starts crying. They tell you not to panic but it’s hard not to panic. What shall I take with me? What do I need?

“I shoved a load of chargers in my bag with my phone and tablet and that kind of stuff. I just said to the kids, pack some stuff up in the bag, owt’ to entertain you.

“My mum works there too as well. I spoke to her about it and luckily she was up.

“It’s scary. Especially when they say there’s a gas leak and it’s not safe.

“It was about 10 past two. Police phoned me to say it was safe to come home. I didn’t sleep. It was about four in the morning when we got home and then I was just worried. I know they tell you it’s safe but you’ve got that niggle.”

She described feeling thankful for a kind police officer who let the family sit in the warm, safe police van as they waited for her partner.

The resident said: “With having kids, if it was just me on my own I would have just stayed but my kids needed to be out and safe. It was freezing, it was so cold."

Recalling the moment when police knocked on his door, another resident said: “They said there’d been an RTA and they were concerned because there was some sparking and arcing coming from the vehicle. As a precaution the fire brigade had been called. We just got told because it’s arcing there was concern of potential for devastation.

“We heard something but I wasn’t sure if I heard it on the TV or what it was. There was a knock on the door and it was a police officer, they said it wasn’t safe for us to be here at the moment.

“It’s been the same owners for at least the past three or four years. That fish shop has been there ever since I can remember. My mum and dad have always lived here. I was formerly in the armed forces but I’m into my 40s now and that’s been here since I was in my teens. It’s been there a lot of years.

“I hope that he can get sorted out with his insurance or get back trading. It’s vital for the community. He does offer a community service.”

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