The owner of a barber shop has recalled the shocking moment he leapt out of the way of a car that ploughed through his business.

Police, paramedics and fire crews descended on Herne Bay High Street before closing the route in both directions after the vehicle crashed into Partners Hair Studio earlier this month.

Footage of the aftermath of the crash shows the destruction caused by the car as it smashed through the window of the shopfront of the town centre firm.

But Alan Shephard, who has owned the salon for 30 years, was inside the premises with his colleague and a customer when the incident happened.

"Two of us were working at about 11am and as I looked up there was a car - which had been parked opposite the shop - coming across," he said.

"I looked up and the car came towards me.

"It was accelerating and went straight through the shop and hit my chair.

"I jumped out of the way into the wall and was hit by the chair - and the car bounced off it and hit the chair of one of the people working here, which pushed them against the wall."

Two women were injured in the crash - although neither of them sustained serious injuries.

One of them had to be taken to hospital for further treatment.

Mr Shephard says the car "just kept going" as it stormed into the shop on Thursday, December 8.

And he believes it is lucky nobody was seriously injured in the incident.

"There were mothers outside with their children seconds before the crash," he added.

"It could have been more serious and we could’ve had more clients in the shop.

"What I believed happened was she [the driver] had tried to pull out, turned the steering wheel to come out into the road and she says her foot got stuck on the accelerator.

"The car came through the shop at about 25mph and was still accelerating, which is why the damage is so extreme.

"It completely wrecked the whole place. The ceiling came down, the chairs are busted and the floor has had it - along with the front of the shop."

Photographs taken shortly after the crash show much of Partners’ shopfront had been destroyed.

Wires could be seen hanging from its damaged ceiling, while smashed glass and debris were also spotted inside the wrecked premises.

Due to the damage caused, Mr Shephard moved the hair studio into his neighbouring tattoo parlour which has allowed him to continue to operate the business.

He says he had an outpouring of support from passers-by, neighbours and customers in the days since the incident.

"I am really grateful for the support of the clients," he said.

"People have been popping in, asking if I’m all right and they brought some treats so it’s been uplifting and it’s been nice for everyone to get support."

Speaking to KentOnline at the time of the incident, a witness – who wished to remain anonymous – said "it was a Christmas miracle" no one was badly hurt.

Jacqui Delbaere, who owns nearby store the Little Green Bookshop, also heard a “really loud crash and bang, along with the sound of smashing glass” when the incident occurred.

“I thought ‘what on earth is that’, went to the door and saw that a car had gone straight through the window of Partners across the road,” she said.

“It was really shocking. People immediately started to gather.

“I was thinking there could have been someone – like a young lady pushing a pram – in front of Partners at the time.”

On the day of the crash, ambulance service officials confirmed its teams were called to the scene to "assess two female patients".

A police spokesman also noted the pair "sustained injuries not believed to be serious".