THE son of a publican whose partner runs a national anti-drink drive group was last night being interviewed by police following a crash at a Cheshire beauty spot.

A stolen Land Rover Freelander allegedly driven by Christopher Mather - son of Glenn Mather who owns the Shady Oak pub in Tiverton - crashed in Crib Lane, Tiverton at 7pm on Monday.

The vehicle smashed through a locked gate and caused £5,000 worth of damage to a new maize maze tourist attraction in the village.

Christopher was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital with a shoulder injury but later released. He was subsequently arrested by police who were still questioning him at Chester police station last night.

By coincidence, Glenn Mather's partner Lynn Hilton, landlady of the Shady Oak, was featured in last week's Chronicle when she spoke of her campaign against drink drivers.

Mrs Hilton, founder of Mothers Against Drink Drivers UK, has campaigned tirelessly to make people aware of the dangerous of drink driving since her 17-year-old daughter Nichola was killed 10 years ago.

Two other males, who are accused of being in the Land Rover when it crashed, appeared before Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Following the crash, they were also taken to the Countess of Chester.

Christopher Davies, 18, of Moss Cottages, Haughton, near Tarporley, and Frank James Vermiglio, 23, of Lincoln Road, Ashton in Makerfield, are both charged with aggravated vehicle taking and criminal damage to property.

Both were released on conditional bail, which includes not making contact with Christopher Mather.

Police say the silver Land Rover had been stolen in a burglary from a house in Waverton in Chester before the crash.

At this week's court hearing, prosecutor Lawrence Bestow said 102 small white tablets were found in the vehicle after the crash, including 17 blue tablets.

He said the Land Rover was stolen from the driveway of a house in Waverton on July 31 after its keys were stolen following a burglary at the property.

Mr Bestow said the vehicle was later fitted with false registration plates stolen from the car dealer James Edwards in Sealand Road, Chester.

He said three males were seen running away from the crash scene in Crib Lane and Davies was arrested by police in an outbuilding at the Shady Oak pub. Vermiglio, like Mather, was arrested at hospital.

Police believe the Land Rover was used to conduct a series of burglaries in Old Coach Road, Kelsall, Northwich and Sandiway before the crash.

Mr Bestow said Glenn Mather was a witness to the crash and has provided a statement to the police.

Robert and Claire Gregory, of Tiverton Hall Farm, opened the maize maze last month.

Since opening, it has become a popular tourist attraction raking in almost £1,000 per day.

The Gregory family came up with the idea as something different for families to do over the summer months.

However, they spent most of Tuesday clearing up the mess left by the crash but decided to press ahead with business despite the damage.

Robert Gregory said: 'It has been business as usual this week. We spent most of Tuesday replanting where some crops had been damaged and let visitors in free of charge.

'Minimal damage was caused to the attraction. The Land Rover smashed through the gates and proceeded down the field and crashed into our drawbridge. Everything is now back to normal and it's business as usual.'