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Car drives into crowd at Christmas market in Stoke

Police and ambulance outside the Counting House, Weatherspoons pub in Congleton - Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media
Police and ambulance outside the Counting House, Weatherspoons pub in Congleton - Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media

A motorist drove into a crowd of shoppers at a Christmas Market on Saturday afternoon.

Three arrests were made in the wake of the incident in Congleton town centre after 4pm but Cheshire Police in a statement indicated it was not "terror-related."

No-one was hurt.

Eyewitnesses said there were around 800 people, including families with small children, enjoying the market when a car "doing at least 50mph ploughed into the crowd."

Steve Brown, owner of Steve Brown Antiques in the High Street, said he was about to close his shop when he suddenly heard screeching tyres and people screaming.

Mr Brown, 58. said: "It was absolutely horrendous. A car has come screeching down the High Street - which is full of stalls and people. There are hundreds of people here, people with kids and dogs and lots of traders.

"He must have been doing at least 50mph. People were jumping out of the way. I saw one elderly lady who had to jump out of the way - she's very shook up. We all are."

Cheshire Police, in a statement, said: "For clarity, this is not being treated as a terror-related incident."

They added: "Three people have been arrested following an incident in Congleton town centre this afternoon.

"It occurred shortly after 4pm and involved a silver Volkswagen Golf, which turned down the pedestrianised area of Bridge Street where the market was taking place, causing alarm to shoppers and residents.

"Fortunately, no-one was hurt during the incident.

"The car was found abandoned a short time later.

"Three men have been arrested and are in custody.

"Officers remain at the scene, providing a highly visible presence to reassure people."