Pedestrian slightly hurt as car hits Wisbech shop window

A pedestrian was injured and a shop owner and his customers left badly shaken after a car smashed through the front window.

The incident, which happened this morning (Wednesday), saw a BMW 5 series reverse through the frontage of the New Image Tattoo Studies in Church Terrace.

The driver, believed to be in his sixties, and his wife, who was a passenger in the car, were both unhurt but shaken. The woman, also believed to be in her sixties, had to be freed from the vehicle.

Andrew Dennis, one of the shop's owners, has been left counting the cost of the damage but said he was grateful no-one in the premises was hurt in the incident.

"We were quite busy at the time and a number of the customers saw what was happening, I was busy and didn't realise what was happening until I heard the big bang," said Andrew.

The shop front has been damaged and the premises filled with debris but Andrew said a structural engineer has been on site and declared the building sound.

He said: "We have been here six years - we moved from round the corner because a lorry hit that shop and made it unsafe and we had to evacuate.

"We are celebrating our 20 years in business next month and this was not how we were expecting to mark the anniversary."

Andrew said: "It was really lucky that no one was badly hurt. The woman pedestrian was left lying on her back on the pavement after being hit by a bit of flying debris but I understand she has only suffered minor injuries.

"If a child or person had been between the car and the shop then it might have been a different story. I'm not sure exactly what happened all I know is the driver was trying to turn round in the turning bay. I think he might have hit reverse instead of first gear.

"As I said thankfully no one was seriously hurt and shop is OK for us to reopen as normal tomorrow once it has been boarded up, we're just waiting for that to be completed - I think the damage is basically cosmetic but we will have to wait for the insurance to sort it out."

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire police said: "We were called at 10.34am this morning to reports of a vehicle colliding with a shop window in Church Terrace, Wisbech. Officers attended along with the fire service. Two people sustained minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment."