A PENSIONER has ploughed her car through the front of a newly refurbished Fareham shop.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at 8am in Highlands Road in Fareham on March 5 after a Volkswagen Golf crashed into the Premier Express shop.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Fire and Rescue said: "One crew from Fareham attended the scene and treated one casualty who was concious and breathing.

"The individual was then passed on to the ambulance service."

The shop is currently being managed by Siva Tharson and Thiva Thiya, 26, who are looking after the business while their cousin, the shop manager, Niran Bala, 36, is away.

Thiva described the situation as "really upsetting."

He said" There was one member of staff working at the time and they were in a lot of shock after it happened.

"They said the older lady who was driving the car looked as if she was struggling before she then drove straight into the shop window.

"We have told Niran about what has happened and he is not happy, but there is nothing he can do.

"It is going to cost him a lot of money and it has damaged the stock.

"He will be coming back as soon as possible."

According Thiva, the Premier Express shop has only been open for six months.

He added: "The shop only opened recently, and it has only just been refurbished.

"He has put in a lot of time and money to make it look nice."

Kevin Gamblin of Dave's Family Butchers, which is located in Highlands Road, said:" The crash sounded like an explosion.

"I came out of the shop and saw the car in the shop window.

"The lady driving the car is in her eighties and she parks and shops around here regularly.

"She drove straight into the car parking space, but these bays are designed to be reversed into."

Since the incident, residents are now calling for measures to be put in place to prevent this from happening again.

Jane Bodman, manager at Solent Cleaners said: "This happened a few years ago when a car hit a wall outside the chemist.

"I think bollards should be put in."

Martin Bellerby, the manager at Peckish Catering agreed adding:" Yes bollards should be put in place.

"It was good no one was walking past at the time as it could have been a lot worse."

A spokesperson from South Central Ambulance Service said:"We were contacted by Hampshire Fire Control at 08:04 this morning who informed us that an elderly female was trapped in her car having driven into a shop window on Highlands Road, Fareham.

We sent an ambulance to the scene and she was treated at the scene for minor injuries."