Car ploughs into Ayr travel agents

Jan 2 2009 by Lisa Boyle

A TRAVEL agent stands to lose thousands of pounds worth of business after a car ploughed through its window.

The Thomson shop in Ayr’s High Street has been forced to close at its busiest time of year following the chaos on Christmas Eve.

The travel shop was wrecked when a Ford Fiesta smashed into it and came to rest in the middle of the shop floor.

And the crash means the shop won’t be able to trade until the end of January after a refit of the premises.

It has sparked fears for the Ayr branch of the holiday giant, which already faces a difficult year of trading as the economic crisis grips the tourism industry.

Maria Cassidy, regional sales manager, expressed her regret.

She said: “Following the accident, the shop has been forced to close until building works have been completed.

“We are devastated following the crash. January is our busiest time of year, so it is a real shame we aren't able to help customers book their holidays. We would encourage our customers to either book their holidays online at Thomson.co.uk or visit our colleagues at the Kilmarnock shop. All customers directly affected by the shop closure will be contacted by staff.”

The car smashed into the shop at around 9am last Wednesday morning.

It is believed that an elderly woman driving the Fiesta swerved to avoid a Nissan Micra. In her panic, it is thought that she hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

She mounted the pavement and went full force through the window, eventually stopping in the middle of the shop.

Luckily the shop was closed for Christmas and there were no staff inside at the time. The shocked driver was treated by paramedics at the scene but didn’t sustain any injuries.

Kylie Miller was working in O’ Briens sandwich bar, next door to Thomson, at the time of the crash.

She ran in and switched off the car’s ignition, fearing it would blow up.

Kylie explained: “I saw the woman pulling out of a parking space in front of O’ Briens.

“The next thing I heard a thud and thought she’d hit a bollard.

“But when I looked out of the window I could see a Nissan Micra sitting on the road almost at a right angle on the road facing Marks and Spencer.

“I went out to make sure the driver was OK and realised that the car I had saw pulling out of the space had gone through Thomson’s window.

“I could smell fuel so I ran inside the shop to switch the ignition off.”

She continued: “It looked like the Fiesta had clipped the Micra as it pulled out and then went through the window.

“The people who live in the flat upstairs said they could feel the whole building shake.

“It could have been tragic if anyone was in the shop or happened to be walking past the shop at the time.”