A DRIVER crashed into school gates leaving behind the debris of his car for the school children the next morning.

The crash happened during the early hours of Sunday morning, but the debris of the car had not been cleared by Monday morning and was left scattered across the main entrance of Chalkwell Hall Junior School, in London Road, Leigh.

The gates of the school were also damaged, as well as the surrounding railings.

The headteacher of the school, Nathan Linfield, was seen clearing most of the debris up himself in a bid to make it safer for the school children to enter the playground.

Frazer Clark, 56, who was passing by, said: “I did not see the accident but I think that it must have happened either late on Saturday night or Sunday morning - the police tape was there when I went past in the morning.

“The smashed pieces of car headlight and bumper were still scattered all across the pavement.

“It was hard to work out what had happened, from the debris, police tape and damage to the school gates, my guess is that a car was travelling along the London Road, heading out of Southend and misjudged the corner.

“I was very surprised that the debris was still on the pavement as the mums were taking their children to school.”

A spokesman for Essex police, said: “We were called to reports a car had been in collision with gates outside a school in London Road, Leigh, at around 3.20am on Sunday, March 24.

“We attended and a 25 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving a short time later.

“He has since been released without charge.

“If you have any information about the incident please call us on 101 quoting incident 169 of March 24 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Chalkwell Hall Juniors declined to comment.