TRADERS fear a neighbouring business will lose valuable custom after a car smashed into the front of it.

A police chase ended with a BMW ploughing through railings and into C and S Insurance, in Haven Road, Canvey.

People living and working nearby have warned the incident is likely to cost the company trade while a major clean-up operation takes place.

The front of C and S Insurance was boarded up yesterday.

A grandmother-of-three, of Haven Road, Canvey, who did not want to be named, said: “I would be surprised if the business is still up and running after what has happened there.

“I don’t know if the shop is fit for business at the current time because of the damage.

“It looks like there will now be a big clean-up operation.

“I looked inside quickly as the door was open when I was walking pas yesterday and it looked a right mess inside.

“I only glanced quickly but from what I saw there was damage to the walls and things like that.”

The smash took place at about 2.45pm on Tuesday.

A 32-year-old shop worker, of Canvey Road, said: “I would imagine that this will affect the business quite a lot, which I think is a shame to be honest.”

A father-of-two, of Haven Road, offer his sympathies to the owners of C and S.

He said: “It must be terrible to have this sort of thing to happen to your business. This is someone’s livelihood and a way of life for them, and another person has just come along and ruined it.

“I think it is inevitable that the business will see a loss of trade due to the crash because it is likely to take some time to clean up. I can’t see the business trading during that time.

“There may also be a quiet period when it does reopen as it will take time for people to know the business is up and running again.”

The owners of C and S refused to comment when approached by the Echo.

qA 22-year-old woman, from Canvey, was arrested on suspicion of taking a car without consent.

The woman, the passenger of the car, has been released on bailed until Thursday, December 8, pending further enquiries.

The male driver ran from the scene and is still at large.