A LORRY hit a building in Weymouth Town Centre, forcing police to close a road and causing heavy traffic to build up - as a café boss said it was lucky nobody was injured.

The TK Maxx lorry hit Bridge House - which contains the Edge Café - as it attempted to drive along St Thomas Street.

The road closed was closed by police as the lorry was removed, before Dorset Council workers carefully removed loose debris from the building and then loaded it onto a van.

Steven McDonald, 48, who runs Edge Café, witnessed the crash as he was talking to a taxi driver outside.

Dorset Echo: Workers remove debris after a lorry struck a building in St Thomas Street, Weymouth. Picture: Dorset Echo/Michael TaylorWorkers remove debris after a lorry struck a building in St Thomas Street, Weymouth. Picture: Dorset Echo/Michael Taylor

He said: “A lorry came down St Thomas Street and turned left down here and got stuck.

“I was outside chatting to a taxi driver at the time. I would say he was quite close to the building and I said to the taxi driver, ‘I hope he doesn’t hit the building’ - and he did.

“The building has recently been redecorated so it is a bit of a sad thing to happen. But it’s not the first time it’s happened.

“The lorry driver was relying on his sat nav and then went down St Thomas Street."

Dorset Echo: Steven McDonald, owner of Edge Cafe, outside his business after debris is cleared from the site. Picture: Dorset Echo/Michael TaylorSteven McDonald, owner of Edge Cafe, outside his business after debris is cleared from the site. Picture: Dorset Echo/Michael Taylor

While there is seating outside the café, as per the current coronavirus restrictions, no one was sat there at the time of the crash.

No one was harmed or injured in the crash, something that Mr McDonald was thankful about.

“We are OK. We’re obviously still serving and able to remain open despite what happened,” he said.

Dorset Echo: The lorry caused some damage to the building in St Thomas Street. The subsequent road closure caused traffic disruption in Weymouth town centre. Picture: David JohnstonThe lorry caused some damage to the building in St Thomas Street. The subsequent road closure caused traffic disruption in Weymouth town centre. Picture: David Johnston

Dorset Echo: A lorry was left damaged after a lorry struck a building in St Thomas Street, Weymouth. Picture: Dorset Echo/Michael Taylor

“It is lucky that no one was there at the time and it’s one of those things that happens. It’s happened about four times now."

An insurance claim is expected to be submitted by the building’s owner while Mr McDonald will submit a business disruption claim.

The road closure following the crash caused heavy traffic to build up in the area, with congestion on St Edmund Street, Town Bridge and North Quay.

Dorset Council confirmed that its Building Control workers arrived to give building safety advice regarding the 'dangerous structure incident'.

Dorset Echo: The cordon around the damaged Weymouth building. The cordon around the damaged Weymouth building.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.19am with a report of a road traffic collision in St Thomas Street in Weymouth involving a lorry that had collided with a building.

"Officers attended and road closures were put in place. There are no reports of any injuries."

TK Maxx has been approached for a comment.