OWNERS of a much-loved Halstead bakery which was hit by a car earlier this year say they are still waiting for the go-ahead to carry out repair works on their damaged shop front.

Hume’s Bakery, on the High Street, has been a town centre stalwart for almost 60 years.

The family-run business was badly damaged in May after a silver Renault Laguna ploughed into the entrance when the driver suffered a serious stroke at the wheel.

The 45-year-old was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries following the collision – which happened in the early hours – and underwent several brain operations.

Hume’s defiantly opened as normal later that day, after employees worked tirelessly through the night to ready the shop in time for loyal customers.

It has now been two months since the horrifying accident, but the bakery’s facade remains boarded up and to date no repairs have been carried out.

Owners Ann and Dennis Hume are now growing agitated at the length of time it is taking for them to be granted permission to start repairing their bakery.

Ann said: “It is absolutely frustrating because we need our shop back to what it was.

“It is all boarded up and our staff are having to work in darkness.

“It has gone on for too long, but unfortunately there is nothing we can do at the present time.

“We have to get planning permission because it is a Grade II listed building. Apparently it can take an age.”

Despite feeling helpless at the delay, Ann and Dennis know the damage could have been much worse.

Ann said: “We are so relieved that when the car hit our shop it didn’t catch fire on impact – our family home and the business could so easily have gone up in flames.

“Our absolutely sincere thanks to all of our many customers and of course our family, friends and staff, who are standing by us at a time when the situation is totally out of our control.”