Diss museum damage

Officials at Diss museum have spoken of their disappointment after their building was the victim of a car crash and criminal damage.The trustees of Diss Museum have been left with a �1,500 bill after one of the front pillars of the Old Shambles in the Market Place was damaged by an out of control vehicle.

Officials at Diss museum have spoken of their disappointment after their building was the victim of a car crash and criminal damage.

The trustees of Diss Museum have been left with a �1,500 bill after one of the front pillars of the Old Shambles in the Market Place was damaged by an out of control vehicle.

Cliff Bird, chairman of the trustees, said it appeared that a car had been going the wrong way up Church Street when it clipped the corner of the 18th century former butchers shop and caused the pillar to be out of alignment.

He added that he hoped that the incident three weeks ago, which was not reported by the driver, would be covered by the museum's insurers.

Mr Bird added that vandals had also caused damage to the rear of the building by cutting a small hole in the wooden wall, but had been unable to steal anything.

'It is sad because everything was going well with the Thomas Paine exhibition and then something like this happens,' he said.