The driver of a van which crashed into a shop front, rupturing a gas pipe and causing residents to be evacuated, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The man was not seriously injured after his vehicle crashed into the shop front of Sunlight Glazing in Lea Bridge Road, near the junction with Leyton Green Road in Leyton at 1am yesterday.

Two adults and a child were rescued through the first floor windows of the flat above the shop by firefighters as the entrance to the building was badly damaged by the crash.

The family is believed to be unharmed and staying with family in the area until the property is repaired.

A ruptured gas pipe also led the emergency services to evacuate 30 residents from nearby properties.

Victor Jeyaseelan, 40, was evacuated with his wife and two children who he took to stay with family in Walthamstow.

He said: “I saw the blue lights and opened the window and just saw the van on it's side. It looked like it had crashed into the shop and then bounced back.”

There was no fire at the premises and nobody was injured as a result of the crash.

The supply to the pipe was cut off by the National Grid last night but repair work cannot begin until the structure of the property is made safe.

The arrested man remains in custody at an East London police station.