THE owner of a well-known junk shop in West Somerset is devastated after a car smashed into the store causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

The car, a Volkswagen Polo ploughed into the front of Chris's Crackers Junk Shop in Carhampton at around 9.40pm last night (Wednesday, February 20) with the vehicle ending up on its roof.

The incident saw the shop damaged, with items well-known to regular drivers along the A39 damaged including a model lion and cast aluminium horse.

Pete Marshall of Chris's Crackers said it had been a tough few months, as before Christmas there had been a break-in at the shop, and the store had also been hit by flooding in recent weeks.

"I got a phone call saying a car had crashed into the shop last night," Mr Marshall said.

"When I arrived the car was still there upside down and the occupants of the car had run off."

Mr Marshall estimated around £10,000 worth of damage has been caused.

"The emergency services attended and cleared the car, and we have been here clearing the damage and clearing the oil spill with a pressure hose," Mr Marshall said.

"They smashed a half-tonne roller into the shop.

"It is a straight road with a 30mph speed limit so I don't know how they managed it, apparently they hit a telegraph pole.

"I am just thankful no-one was seriously injured.

"It has been a difficult period with the break-in and flooding too, especially in the quiet winter months this is the last thing we needed."

Avon and Somerset Police said enquiries into the incident are continuing.

A police spokesman said: "We received a report at 9.40pm last night that a car had been in collision with a shop and ended up on its roof.

“There were two male occupants in the car who were not injured.

“There was also damage to a power line which was repaired by Western Power.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact us, quoting reference 5220/041650.”