A man has appeared in court charged with four counts of attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car in London’s West End on Christmas Day.

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, of Harlow in Essex, is also charged with causing serious injury by driving whilst disqualified and possessing a knife in a public place, according to court documents.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on January 24.

Gilheaney is accused of causing serious injury to four pedestrians while driving a Mercedes-Benz E-Class on Shaftesbury Avenue on Christmas Day whilst disqualified.

He is also accused of having a small knife in Lincoln’s Inn Fields on the same day.

One victim remains in a critical condition and is receiving treatment in hospital.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 0.45am on Wednesday after reports of a collision and a car driving on the wrong side of the road on Shaftesbury Avenue in the capital’s theatre district.

The police cordon stretched between the Gielgud Theatre, where the musical Oliver is performed, and Sondheim Theatre, home to Les Miserables.

A further police cordon was on Archer Street and Great Windmill Street, covering the Windmill Soho nightclub and other venues in the Soho area.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said a suspect was arrested within minutes of the “violent attack in the early hours of Christmas Day in Central London”.

He added: “Since then, investigators have worked tirelessly to build the case and have today charged Anthony Gilheaney with four counts of attempted murder.

“Our thoughts now are with the victims, one of which remains in critical condition in hospital.”