Drivers were treated to free car parking after a barrier was damaged in a crash on Friday.

A white BMW estate careered into the pole wrenching it from its base before the car also struck an adjacent bollard at the City Hall site.

Nobody was injured in the incident and motorists were able to leave the Victoria Street exit for a spell without paying.

A bystander said: “The guy was looking at his screen on his phone while still keeping his foot on the gas and just carried on through.

“He wasn’t hurt and thankfully nobody else was either.”

Police attended the scene at about 10.30am and noted details of the car and damage before taking photographs.

The barrier has been broken before as drivers failed to negotiate the gate while trying to pay charges on the way out of the car park.

A City spokeswoman said: “Earlier today, a vehicle struck a camera and barrier gate in the City Hall car park, and our technicians have been working to repair the system.

“The car park is now operational. However, users will have to enter their licence plate manually at the Victoria Street exit while repairs to the camera system are being made following the incident.”

The cost of repairs and lost revenue from motorists was still to be discovered by officials.