A VISITOR to the Royal Berkshire Hospital (RBH) has rammed through the car parking barrier to avoid paying.

The hospital's CCTV shows the driver driving straight through the car parking barrier and breaking it.

Since the incident, the CEO of the RBH, Steve McManus, has released a statement explaining the hospital is investigating a series of vandalism incidents in the car park and "will be pursuing these through the courts if necessary".

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He said: "Vandals who damage car parking facilities could be putting lives at risk.

"And the people who are abusing the car parking facility by using it when the barrier has been vandalised, are also having a major impact on the working of the hospital."

He continued: "Essential medical staff are arriving for work and unable to find parking spaces, and patients are suffering very lengthy delays to appointments – often for very serious illnesses like cancer treatment and dialysis.

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"All this has a major knock on effect on the efficient day to day running of the hospital and seriously impedes the work we’re doing to help patients and their families."

Mr McManus also issued a plea for people who witness vandalism to come forward with information.

He said: "We have CCTV in operation around the car park and security teams patrol it throughout the day and night.

"We’d encourage anyone visiting the site who witnesses any acts of vandalism to report these to our security teams and we will liaise with the police to take the necessary action.”