A city centre street has been shut off after a taxi ploughed into the window of a beauty salon.

Emergency crews rushed to Burgate Lane after the silver cab careered into Razor Hair and Tans at about 11.30am.

Salon boss Rawaz Hassan ran to switch the engine off – potentially preventing others from being hurt.

He said: “I just saw this car coming towards the shop and asked the girls to get to the back.

“There was a big bang and smash as it hit a pole and then the building.

“I could see the driver and he wasn’t looking very well. He may have collapsed.

“I ran through the back door and straight away turned the engine off. His foot kept going on the accelerator.

“If I hadn’t done that maybe he would come through more and others could’ve been hurt.

“The girls were shocked and so was I.”

Fire crews used a hydraulic jack to support the damaged building.

The taxi driver was able to free himself from the car and was checked over by paramedics.

Building inspectors have been called to review the damage to the shop.

The crash reportedly causing gridlock across the city.