Acorn Crafts in Hythe was left with a gaping hole. Pictures: Paul Amos

by Sam Lennon

Stunned shoppers saw a car career out of control and smash straight through a shop front in Hythe this afternoon.

Witnesses said the Nissan - driven by an elderly woman - ploughed
straight into the disused Acorn Crafts in the High Street at just before 3.20pm.

Builder Kevin Powell, who arrived in his car at the scene moments after the smash, said: "The car had gone right through the glass frontage of the shop and 90% has been taken out.

“I understood it had been in collision with a parked car first.

"The driver was an elderly lady who was badly shaken, but to my knowledge unhurt.

"She was taken by bystanders to a solicitor's office to help her recover."

Mr Powell, 47, of Seabourne Way, Dymchurch, said police and firefighters were already at the scene by the time he arrived.

The former crafts shop is unoccupied, but has at least one woman living above who got out unharmed.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were called at 3.16pm to reports of a car going through a shop window.

"No persons were trapped in the vehicle and there were no other injuries reported."

KFRS said one fire crew from Hythe made the scene safe and awaited the arrival of a building inspection to check the condition of the property.

Kent Police also attended and the fire crew stayed at the scene for just over an hour.