UPDATED: Shop 'evacuated' after reversing car ploughs into the middle of it

A reversing car slammed into the middle of an Anchorsholme shop, causing extensive damage, police said this morning.
The shop was wrecked by the reversing car (Pic: Andrew Figg)The shop was wrecked by the reversing car (Pic: Andrew Figg)
The shop was wrecked by the reversing car (Pic: Andrew Figg)

The silver Vauxhall Astra is believed to have been parked in a bay outside D&D Emporium in Eastpines Drive immediately before the accident.

A picture taken at the scene by Andrew Figg shows the devastation caused, with firefighters scrambled to help make the scene safe, at around 6.05pm yesterday.

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A spokesman for Lancashire Police said the car was being driven by a man in his 60s, who was uninjured.

D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)
D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)

He was not arrested but may be quizzed by officers later, the spokesman added.

It is not known whether the shop was open at the time of the crash, but officers said it was 'evacuated' as a precaution and that nobody was hurt.

The car was taken away at around 7.15pm, with workmen called out to board up the wrecked shop facade. The building is understood to be structurally safe.

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Nobody at D&D Emporium, which advertises shabby chic and retro furniture, could be reached for a comment this morning.

D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)
D&D Emporium has a number of parking bays immediately outside the shop (Pic: Google)

But in a post to Facebook at 8.32am, owner Debbie Bannister said: "I'm sorry to say that my shop will be closed until further notice.

"Last night there was an accident and a car ended up in the middle of my shop, demolishing the frontage and majority of the stock along the way.

"It's taken nearly five years of hard work, love, and belief for my business to get to the stage it was at, and having just undergone a massive refurbishment to get it up to the next level, last night's accident has totally devastated me.

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"I want to thank everyone who has been supportive over the years; customers, friends, family, and other small businesses, and everyone who has sent me messages of love and support since yesterday evening.

"As yet I have no idea whats going to happen, as [I] will have to see what the loss assessors and insurance company say/do.

"But I do know that the only saving grace in all this is that, by some miracle, nobody was injured, especially given the time of the accident and how many people were around."