STAFF at a Cranbrook shop weren't going to let the little matter of a car careering through their front window dampen the Christmas spirit.

After the initial shock - and after clearing up the debris - they put up a message saying: "Due to Santa's sleigh driving into our shop window, we apologise for our poor Christmas window. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

Staff and shoppers had been stopped in their tracks when a Renault car swerved off the main road and straight through the window of County Cookshops in the High Street at lunchtime on Thursday.

It came to rest, still with the engine running, with its front half inside the shop and its rear blocking the pavement.

Shop owner Charles Webb, who was at work with staff member Hilary Fountain at the time, said: "I think a lot of people were fairly shaken up actually, although no-one was injured."

Within two hours, a temporary pane of glass had been fitted, and the shop was declared safe to re-open. Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident.