HUNDREDS of children had to be evacuated from a primary school after a Mercedes crashed into the wall of their building and burst a gas pipe.

All 280 pupils at Robert Blair Primary School in Brewery Road, Holloway, were rushed into the playground after the car sped out of control at 10am on Friday, rammed into the school and cracked a pipe, which began to leak gas.

The silver Mercedes had mounted the pavement and taken out a bin, smashed the school’s intercom and damaged a lamppost, which was left with its wires exposed.

Mark Miller, headteacher at Robert Blair, said: “There was an accident outside. The children were evacuated out of the school building for a short time as a precautionary measure. The driver needed some medical attention. The gas board came out very quickly and made it safe.”

The damaged gas service pipe, which is lodged in the wall, is what connects the school to the gas main.

The driver, who is thought to be in his twenties, sustained injuries to his back and was taken to University College Hospital in Euston. Police said his injuries were not life threatening.

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at just after 10am to reports of a road traffic collision. We sent one ambulance crew and our staff treated one patient, reported to be a man in his 20s.”

Residents from Blenheim Court, off Brewery Road, were also evacuated. The road was closed by police for around an hour while National Grid staff dealt with the leak.

A spokesman for National Grid said: “We were called to the scene at 10.21am after a third party damaged a gas service pipe. Our engineer arrived at 10.35am. The scene was made safe and the gas shut off. The pipe has now been replaced.

“If people smell gas or have concerns over gas safety they should call the national emergency number on 0800 111 999.”