A SUSPECTED drink-drive incident has caused significant damage to a listed wall near a primary school in Cheddon Fitzpaine, renewing fears that there could be more serious consequences next time.

The incident occurred at 3.20am on Saturday, January 7 and an ambulance was called to treat the driver who was suffering with chest injuries.

The 200-year-old perimeter wall of the original lodge to Hestercombe House is situated on a notoriously dangerous corner and has fallen victim to about 10 instances of vehicles driving into it in as many years.

There is currently no speed restriction on that stretch of the road, which is just a few hundred feet away from Cheddon Fitzpaine Primary School.

Chair of the parish council Denise Webber said: “This is the third time the wall has been completely knocked down, and it has been damaged about seven other times on this corner in the last decade.

“This road is used as a rat run and people really put their foot down on the straight, but then the road narrows and bends before the school.

“It worries me, because although these accidents normally happen at night, one day it's going to happen when the children are coming out of school and at some stage someone is going to be killed.”

The parish council has tried in vain for years to bring in some kind of speed restriction or speed limiting measure.

A local 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving with an alcohol level above the legal limit and is due to appear at Taunton Magistrates' Court on February 23.