A North Belfast community has been left 'extremely angry' after a single-vehicle collision has caused their local residents centre to close with immediate effect.
The Glencairn Residents Group was damaged in the incident which took place during the early hours of Saturday.
A Volkswagen Golf crashed into the wall of the building and damaged a gas supply box - leaving the area closed off for some time.
A spokesperson for the group on the Forthriver Road told Belfast Live that the community hall is a 'much needed asset to the area.'
He said: "We are gutted for the all the users of our community house, we are unable to open this coming week.
"At 5am this morning key holders were woken by police to this wreckage. We are extremely angry at the destruction to our community house which is the only hub in this community and is used by the young people from Glencairn as their youth club.
"We hope the repairs happen quickly as it is a much needed asset to the area."
He explained that a lot of work will need to be carried out before they can open their doors to the locals.
"Gas boxes outside have been damaged and will need replacing as will the outside garden and fencing. We won't be opening until the Northern Ireland Housing Executive get in and deem the building safe.
"This could have been a lot worse as the gas leak was very dangerous.
Police were called to the scene after reports of a single-vehicle road traffic collision just after 4am today.
Inspector David McBride said: "We received a report just after 4:06am that a Volkswagen Golf had gone through a fence and hit the wall of a building, damaging a gas supply box.
" Police attended along with NIFRS and a local gas company. The road was closed for a time, however it has since re-opened.
"As police were on scene, a 19-year-old man who was in the vicinity was arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour, assault on police and resisting arrest. He remains in custody this afternoon assisting us with our enquiries.
"Our enquiries are ongoing, and I want to appeal to anyone who believes they saw the silver Volkswagen Golf prior to the collision, or who was in the area and saw what happened, or anyone who knows anything about this to call police on the non emergency number 101, quoting reference number 271 of 31/08/19."
DUP Councilor Nicola Verner condemned the incident.
She told Belfast Live: "This was a shocking incident that has caused disruption to the local residents and valuable community provision.
"Thankfully no one was hurt or seriously injured and this could have been a lot more serious. I would appeal for anyone with information to contact police in 101."
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