Alex and Chu Yun Chui are reminding customers they are open for business, despite the crash damaging their shop. Photo: Steve Adams

A couple whose shop was destroyed in a car crash said their trade had halved since the accident while they wait for their insurance to pay for repairs.

On Friday July 13 a Suzuki Jimny hit the front of the vegan food shop, Loving Hut Vegeland in Cattle Market street, in the city centre at around 5am.

The accident left the shop floor covered in bricks.

But despite clearing up the mess and putting signs up on a board over the hole left in the shop front, the owners said trade had dropped by around 50pc.

Eight weeks later, Alex and Chu Yun Chui, who run the food outlet, are waiting for repair work to start.

Mrs Chui, 50, said: “We have lost a lot of customers.

“Before, we had a window there, but now it is dark. People think we are closed because of the board outside.

“They send me an email and call me asking me, are you still open? I thought you were closing down.

“It has affected us badly, I don’t know when we will have a new window. We need it as soon as possible.”

The damage has been temporarily repaired with a white board and the couple, who live in Thorpe St Andrew with their two children, put a sign up reminding people the takeaway is open.

Mr Chui, 50, said they were insured for the damage, but there were waiting for money to come through for the repair work.

A neighbour woke up when the car hit the building and jotted down the car’s number plate, as the driver reportedly drove off.

Norfolk Constabulary said there had not been any arrests following the crash, but a man was helping them with their inquiries.

•Do you have a story for the Evening News? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.