A vicar is appealing for information and pictures after a lorry allegedly smashed into a church wall in Hampstead and drove off.

Hampstead Parish Church vicar the Rev Richard Fletcher did not see the incident on Friday morning (November 11) but has been left to deal with the damage.

He believes "a large truck" travelled down from Frognal on to Church Row but the driver did not realise there were width restrictions and had to turn around - hitting the church gate posts and damaging the railings and gate.

This Is Local London: Damaged wall and gate at Hampstead Parish ChurchDamaged wall and gate at Hampstead Parish Church (Image: @Hampstead_PC)

"A number of people were around and police were there to deal with the traffic back up," he said.

"A lorry came up and realised he couldn't go any further so did a three-point turn and reversed out. 

"A few years ago a lorry reversed three times into pillars of the church. It's been an ongoing issue."

Rev Fletcher said there are a number of width restrictions on the road that are well signposted but some drivers "get distracted" and don't see it.

Residents in Church Row were left furious on two occasions in April 2021 when construction vehicles damaged three parked cars in the narrow street.

"Church Row is one of the key arteries to get from Frognal to Heath Road and gets jammed in the morning," the vicar added.

"It's a shame what happened, especially as some delivery drivers from further afield don't necessarily know the street narrows.

"They've come up from Frognal, seen the sign and realised they can't do anything and try to turn in Holly Walk. 

"They damaged the iron work and damaged the gate, we can't now open the gate.

"That bit of the church and the churchyard is around 200 years old. People don't like to see it get damaged."

The vicar is appealing for anyone who saw the incident and might have taken a photo of the vehicle.

He added: "As yet, people haven't come forward to say that they caused the damage.
"There's insurance and the churchyard is also maintained by the church and Camden Council who have been very good about it in times past.

"It's a sadness when drivers don't report it."

The Metropolitan Police said they had no report of the collision.