Early-morning collision forces temporary closure of EACH shop
A charity shop in Ipswich has been closed until further notice after a car collided with the building on Felixstowe Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
Suffolk police were called to the scene at 6.25am, and the occupant of the vehicle was taken to hospital for further care. The East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) shop was shut at the time and, according to the charity, no volunteers, staff or members of the public were injured.
"As the shop was closed at the time, we are extremely pleased and relieved that no members of the public, customers, volunteers or staff were injured," an EACH spokesman said. "We hope the driver is OK and wish them a speedy recovery."
The organisation thanked the emergency services, including police and fire crews, for their response and support. Because the vehicle cannot be moved until the damage has been assessed, the shop will remain shut while a structural engineer inspects the building to confirm it is safe.
What happens next for the shop and the local community
The charity set out the immediate priorities and steps that will be taken. These include:
- Awaiting a structural engineer's assessment to determine whether the building is safe to re-enter.
- Carrying out any necessary repairs following the inspection.
- Making arrangements to reopen as quickly as it is "practical and safe".
"The safety and wellbeing of everyone involved remains our priority," the spokesman added, emphasising the organisation's focus on a careful and measured response.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Early morning, 12 August | Vehicle struck front of EACH shop on Felixstowe Road |
| 06:25 | Suffolk police called; person taken to hospital |
| Following incident | Shop closed pending structural engineer assessment; vehicle not moved |
Local consequences beyond the building
The Felixstowe Road shop is part of EACH's network of high-street outlets that raise funds and provide local volunteers with ways to support the charity. While there is no indication of injuries to staff or volunteers, the temporary loss of a shop reduces the charity's retail capacity in Ipswich until repairs are completed.
The spokesman expressed gratitude to the local community for their support and understanding, and paid tribute to the swift actions of responders at the scene. They also reiterated that the shop will only reopen once the building is certified safe, and that repairs will begin once the assessment has been completed.
At present, details about the extent of structural damage or any potential disruption to neighbouring properties have not been released. The vehicle remains in place pending the assessment.
Practical advice for residents
Residents concerned about safety or any local disruptions can expect further information from EACH or Suffolk police once the structural inspection has been carried out and any necessary investigations concluded. In the meantime, the following points may be helpful:
- Do not attempt to approach the building while the vehicle is still in place or while emergency services are working.
- Contact EACH directly for queries about donations or volunteering affected by the closure.
- Watch for updates from Suffolk police and local council services if the incident affects traffic or nearby premises.
The incident is a reminder of the role local shops play in community life and how quickly that can be disrupted by an accident. The priority for all agencies involved remains the health and safety of those affected and a careful, professional assessment of the premises before any recovery work begins.
