Former News Letter editor Sam Butler crashed his sports car into Graze restaurant in east Belfast on Tuesday.

At least two cars were involved in an initial collision.

Mr Butler's Jaguar F-Type convertible then spun around and crashed into the front of the restaurant in Ballyhackamore just after 10am. Mr Butler said he was shaken but unhurt.

There were long delays as traffic was brought to a standstill on Belfast's Upper Newtownards road.

Police confirmed no-one was injured during the incident.

Restaurant co-owner Neil Johnston told the BBC: "We're just glad that no-one was injured - at the end of the day it's just a building and we can have it fixed.

"It's not every day that a £80,000 sports car drives through your front window, so now we're doing a drive-through at Graze."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Kevin Scott / Presseye / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Tuesday 22nd September 2015, Belfast , Northern Ireland - Sports car crash Pictured is a ?60,000 sports car collided into a restaurant window on the Upper Newtownards road in Belfast. It is believed that the JAGUAR F-TYPE CONVERTIBLE S collided with the shop front earlier this morning after swerving to avoid another car. Police attend the scene. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Graze later took to Twitter posting photographs showing the damage inside the building.

They posted a photo of the interior showing the impact of the crash.

Along with a photo of the outside it added the caption: "Smashing times at Graze Belfast".

Smashing times @grazebelfast #BelfastRestaurants #belfasttelegraph pic.twitter.com/YE84jhLjfD — Graze (@grazebelfast) September 22, 2015 Jag F Type Verdict; WOW Fast Fantastic Fun to drive. Forget E Type, F is real sports car with punch and style. Shame I have to give back. — Sam Butler (@DukeSchomberg) August 4, 2013

Belfast Telegraph