A Gorse Hill business has reopened over a year after its headquarters were wrecked by a car that crashed into it. 

For 14 months, staff at Michael's Workwear have had to operate out of a two-bed bungalow, after their Cricklade Road building was rendered unsafe by a crash in 2023, that saw a man banned from driving. 

The impact of the car was so severe that its engine was launched several yards into the street, and the damage caused was said to total almost £100,000. 

Swindon Advertiser: But now, the building has been fully restored and officially reopened on May 20,

Owner Michael Titcombe has spoken of his relief to be back, and how wonderful it has been to finally reopen the doors to the public. 

“We’ve come through a couple of recessions, we have come through Covid, but the last 14 months have been the worst, it has been very stressful," he said. 

“We have still been trading and we are very thankful to our trade customers who kept us going over the past 14 months."

Swindon Advertiser: Michael TitcombeMichael Titcombe (Image: Newsquest)With the front of the building dropping by five inches as a result of the crash, Michael was told it would take three months to repair, but this was delayed by more damage being revealed over time. 

Swindon-based firm ESS Group ended up repairing the building, with Michael saying they had done a 'magnificent job'. 

"I'm glad to be back and try and build things back up and attempt to recoup some of the money we lost," he said.

Swindon Advertiser: "It's not going to be easy, we didn’t expect to come back and get back to where we were 14 months, a lot of footfall customers have gone to other suppliers, so we’ve got to now build that back up again."

Liam Wells, 31, of The Circle, Swindon, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug driving, driving uninsured and driving without a licence.

Read More: CCTV footage reveals moment drug driver smashed in Swindon shop

In November he was given a 16-month suspended sentence and was banned from driving for two years.

The business owner added that he bears no ill will towards Wells despite the damage he caused and the financial losses. 

Swindon Advertiser: A fully restored Michael's Workware storeA fully restored Michael's Workware store (Image: Dave Cox)

“I did meet him in court," he said. "He asked me if I was Michael and he said he was ‘so, so sorry for all the problems I’ve caused you’.

"It was very brave of him to do that.

"I'm just glad that nobody was seriously hurt, it caused us a lot of problems and stress, but the important thing was that no one had been killed."