A driver who lost control of his car ploughed through a set of doors and into a car park lobby injuring terrified shoppers.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said a Vauxhall car driven by a man in his 20s narrowly missed a lot of people after it crashed through a set of double doors at St Nicholas Centre car park in Sutton and came to a halt very close to ticket machines.

Three people and the driver of the car were taken to hospital for minor injuries. The crash happened on the second level of the car park at about 1pm yesterday.

A St Nicholas Shopping Centre spokesman said an investigation into the cause of the incident is now under way.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “The car had entered the car park and drove through the doors, into the lobby and narrowly missed a lot of people who were waiting to pay at the machines.

“People in the lobby were being pushed out of the way – they had the biggest fright of their lives.

“Three people in the lobby were injured and taken to hospital. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The doors were badly damaged and had to be taken down.

It is thought the driver of the car might have blacked out at the wheel.

The police and London Ambulance Service also attended.

St Nicholas Shopping Centre manager Sharon Golding said: “This was an unfortunate (incident) which was beyond our control but we are doing everything possible to resume the smooth operation of the centre again and wish a speedy recovery for all injured parties.”

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