People and Business: Big bang

COLCHESTER nearly got Britain's first ever drive-in stockbrokers yesterday, courtesy of a runaway lorry.

Jeff Metzger and Nick Brook of brokers Walker Cripps Weddle Beck were pondering the fate of the engineering sector when they heard an "almighty bang".

They ran outside to discover an overturned lorry that had demolished part of their Georgian colonnade. Mr Brook went to extract the driver, only to discover no-one there - the chap had parked the lorry at the top of the hill.

"We thought he might just be in a rush to get some Weir Group shares ahead of the announcement," quipped Mr Metzger with commendable sang froid.