Officer hurt in station car attack

The new station was officially opened on 28 June

A policeman was injured after a new £1m police station was repeatedly rammed by a car.

The station, in Seaham, County Durham, was badly damaged by a car driven by a man who also attacked the station with a hammer.

Durham Police said an officer was injured when he confronted and overpowered the man.

The attack on the station, which was only opened in June, was launched at 1630 BST on Wednesday.

The previous station was on the seafront in Seaham

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "A blue Rover car, which was involved in the incident, was driven over a grassed area and pavement before smashing into the public area of the entrance.

"The exercise was repeated several times before a man climbed out of the car and attacked windows in the premises with a hammer."

Acting Inspector Bill Bentham confronted a hammer-wielding man outside the station and disarmed him, the spokesman added.

He said the officer received slight injuries during the struggle, but did not require hospital treatment.

During the confrontation a masonry block from the damaged building was thrown at the inspector.

Motive unclear

It missed, but smashed the windscreen of a parked police car.

The spokesman added: "The attack caused extensive damage to both exterior and interior walls and glass panels which were shattered.

"The exact motive for the attack is at the moment unclear, but the result is there is now no safe access at the front of the building, which is being boarded up."

Police said a man, aged in his late 20s, had been arrested and was being questioned at a local police station on Wednesday.