Publicans Geoff and Paul Windle should have been enjoying their first week in charge of the Lysley Arms, in Pewsham, Chippenham, but instead they have been clearing rubble after a car smashed through the front porch on Saturday evening.

The brothers have spent hours talking to insurance companies and cleaning up the debris left by the crash, which took place at around 10.30pm.

They had feared they would not be able to open until today. But, after a massive clean-up, they were in business yesterday, although the front door still cannot be used.

Geoff Windle said: “We got a skip and got rid of all the mess so we could start trading as soon as possible. ”

Sergeant Alan George of Calne police said: “Fortunately no one was injured, however the consequences had anybody been in the immediate vicinity speak for themselves.”

The brothers, who were due to take over the pub on Monday, found out about the incident on Sunday.

Geoff Windle said: “I had a phone call at home saying we should come down to have a look at what had happened.

“We did not know what to think when we saw it – it was a bit of a disaster.”

Although the building has been declared safe, the front entrance has been cordonned off and the pub remained closed for several days while repairs were carried out.

Geoff Windle said: “The pub is a listed building so we will have to go through planning before we can rebuild the porch – we will be using the side entrances for a while.

“It looked like a nightmare but stuff like this happens and we will have to just get on with it.”

Geoff, 49, and Paul, 51, have been in the licensed trade in Chippenham for several years.

Paul Windle said: “We are family men and our aim is for the pub to be family-orientated.

“One of the things that will set us apart is that we smoke our own meats.”

Geoff ran The Salutation near Castle Combe for six years, but this is the first time the pair have worked together.

He said: “We get on with each other and we do not think we will have any problems.”

The brothers have leased the pub from Heavitree Brewery.