A WITNESS has told how an elderly driver lost control and ploughed into 11 parked cars outside Asda in Castlepoint.

The man, driving an automatic car, ripped wing mirrors and bumpers from other vehicles and caused thousands of pounds worth of dents and scratches.

The witness, who does not wish to be named, saw the driver get into his red Renault Megane on the top floor of the car park at 12.45pm on Thursday May 7.

"Instead of reversing out of the space, he decided to drive through a gap in front of him, between two parked cars" she said.

"The gap wasn't wide enough and he ripped the wing mirrors and bumpers off both cars. I think he panicked then because his wheels started spinning and there was smoke coming from the tyres.

"He then went forward into another row of cars, which collided with the next row in a domino effect. They only stopped because they hit a barrier around the stairs.

"All the time his wife was just standing there with their trolley full of shopping."

The Bournemouth woman said the man, aged around 70, told her his car was automatic, then said: "What on earth have I just done?"

She said a security guard from Asda brought him a chair and emergency services were called.

Police said they spoke to the driver of a red Renault Megane, registered to an address in Christchurch, but no further action will be taken.

They said one person suffered minor injuries but could give no further details.

A Dorset Fire and Rescue crew from Redhill Park attended and made the scene safe by disconnecting the batteries of two vehicles and absorbing an oil spillage.

A spokesperson for Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth said: "A few cars suffered some low-impact damage."