Staff and customers at a Chorley car dealership had a lucky escape when a motorist lost control of her vehicle and ploughed straight through the front of the showroom.
Workers at Chorley Nissan could only watch on in horror as a Nissan Micra collided with a car in Ackhurst Road, careered out of control for 50 yards, knocked down a security post and went straight through the electric doors of the showroom.

Miraculously nobody was hurt but it's estimated the damage to the building could be as much as £50,000.

The driver of the car, who's a local woman in her 50s, was treated for shock but was otherwise uninjured.

Patrick Mark Holmes is a senior sales executive and has worked at Chorley Nissan for 16 years.

He was seated just behind the showroom's glass doors and watched the drama unfold at about 1pm yesterday (Thurs).

He recalled: "The lady driving the Nissan Micra was pulling into the showroom to get her car serviced when she collided with a silver Ford Focus car coming in the other direction.

"She swerved to miss it but still hit the bumper. As she tried to avoid it she sped up and ended up going through the electric doors.

"There was this massive explosion of glass. Normally customers stand by the doors but luckily there were none there at the time.

"I was about two yards behind the doors but my colleague, Jean Roscoe, was even closer. I was worried about the main structure coming down but I got Jean away from the area and all the staff were superb.

"It was a total shock and there was something surreal about it."

Mrs Roscoe, 58, said: "I had to dive out of the way as I was sitting at the door. I have been here 14 years and you never expect anything like this to happen."

Mr Holmes said the driver of the Nissan Micra was in a state of shock when he got to her.

"She was unable to say anything but the ambulance was called and she wasn't actually hurt," he said. "I then went to the other driver who was okay.

"It is amazing that the Micra was hardly damaged in the collision. The heavy electric doors probably weigh a few tonnes."

He said the security post that was installed to stop ramraiders slowed the car down as it had been travelling at speeds of between 20-30mph.

The Heath and Safety Executive were called to make sure the building was structurally safe and the police and ambulance service also attended as a precaution.

Neither of the two drivers have been named.

Mr Holmes added: "We are happy that no-one was injured."

A spokesman for Lancashire Ambulance Service said: "We arrived at the scene at 1.04pm but no one needed to be taken to hospital."

(Sorry about the picture quality..they must have taken the pics with a 2.0mp phone cam)





I bet Nissan are glad they moved the 08 350z which is usually parked in front on the show room Theres a bit of a them latly of old people driving cars into showrooms

P.s I have to work at this very Nissan dealership soon