
A Darlington fidget shop has reopened after a car crashed into its building.
Funky Fidgets, on Borough Road, has now reopened after the building was declared safe.
The shop was forced to close after a car came off the road and struck a bollard before crashing into the front of the building at around 11.20am on Tuesday, October 6.
(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
The collision also damaged the offices of T.W.S Security, with the wall bowed where the car hit.
Staff at both businesses heard a loud bang as the car hit the building.
Funky Fidgets owner Melissa Brunskill was livestreaming from upstairs at the time, with staff and customers inside the shop.
She previously said: “I had staff downstairs and a team with me upstairs on live and we heard a bang.
"We rushed downstairs and called 999. We had some customers - a mother and a teenage boy - who were in when it happened.”
(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
One member of staff added: "It could have been so much worse. We usually have a huge queue out the door."
Owner Mel confirmed the shop had reopened in a Facebook video update.
She said: “That is right, you have heard the good news, we are back in store.”
The shop also thanked customers for their patience on delayed orders during the closure.
Police said there were no reported injuries.
(Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
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A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said previously: “We were called to a road traffic collision on Borough Road in Darlington at 11.12am on October 6, 2026.
"We dispatched an ambulance crew and a clinical team leader who treated one patient at the scene."
The business previously grew from selling six stress balls from a bedroom to handling around 100 orders a day.