Pensioner crashes into opticians

He may have needed to go for an eye test – but possibly not by car. An 89-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle while driving down a busy street yesterday and ploughed through the front of an optician's shop, causing damage estimated at thousands of pounds.

The pensioner, who witnesses said was wearing glasses, mounted the pavement in Seaford, East Sussex, careered through the shop and smashed two display units of designer sunglasses before coming to a stop in front of shocked staff.

The owner of Sussex Eyecare, Daeron McGee, said: "He was wearing specs, but I have to say he wasn't one of my customers. He said he had a dizzy turn and hit the accelerator instead of the brake. He smashed through the window and took out a cabinet of Oakleys and a cabinet of Ray-Bans, about 300 pairs in all. Our front door is now on its side and the shop front has gone. My staff are all a bit shaken up but accidents happen and nobody was hurt, which is the main thing."

Tony McCord, commander at Hove fire station, said: "The driver walked out unhurt and was checked over by paramedics at the scene. We got the car back out and made the shop safe."