A LORRY has driven into an historic building in York. 

The lorry struck Links in High Petergate at about 9.30am.

Zoe Snowden, of Clarkson Menswear which is next door to Links, said the driver of the lorry had been trying to manoeuvre around volunteers from St Nicks who were collecting recycling. 

She said: “He didn’t realise how low down the shop roofs were and the lorry hit the top of the shop, Links."

Andrew Hannan, owner of Clarkson Footwear which is another door down, said: “The two men then tried to reverse back.

“I had to stand behind the lorry to stop them reversing into our window.

“Our glass is 16th century and it would not take much force to break the window.”

This is not the first time a lorry has become stuck in the city centre.

There have been a number of incidents of lorries causing damage to historic buildings in York.

Phil Pinder, a local business owner who witnessed the incident, said his own property in Goodramgate was hit by vehicles three times last year. 

In 2013 The Rubber Stamp Shop in Goodgramgate was damaged after a lorry hit the building.

A similar incident occurred, last year when a large lorry became stuck round a boulder outside the former Aviva building at Station Rise.

A van also hit the Pyramid Gallery in Stonegate last October, taking plasterwork off the corner of the first floor window.