Shoppers were forced to dive for cover when a car crashed through a set of doors and into a car park lobby.

Maria Johnson, 44, from Banstead said she had been shopping with her 11-year-old daughter Rachel and was heading back to St Nicholas Centre car park when car came speeding towards her.

Mrs Johnson, who was taken to hospital for an x-ray, said: “It's a miracle no one was seriously injured. I jumped out of the way but one of the doors hit me - I hurt my back and I've got bruised ribs. It was absolutely terrifying.”

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 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 on Sunday.

A police spokesman confirmed a 27-year-old driver had been reported for dangerous driving and paperwork is being prepared for sending to the relevant authorities so appropriate action can be taken.

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.

St Nicholas Shopping Centre manager Sharon Golding said: “This was an unfortunate accident 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.”

A London Ambulance spokesman said: “We were called just after 1pm to reports of a road traffic collision in the St Nicholas Centre car park.

“We sent three ambulances and four patients were taken to St Helier Hospital.”

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