Fire crews, the police and an ambulance were called to John's Newsagents in Railway Road, Adlington.

The doors and windows at the front of the shop were pushed back due to the impact, but a main joist that supports the property remained intact and it stopped the car from causing further damage.

Shaun Gibbs, whose parents own the newsagents, said: "A pedestrian was walking down the road and would have been hit if the accident had been any later.

"A female driver had also hesitated when she saw the young driver coming at some speed so she also had a near escape.

"The fire brigade had to smash the window as they couldn't get in the door, but the first we knew about it was when the owner of the video shop rang my dad at home to tell him what had happened.

"We had to call out a structural engineer to make sure the building was safe, but we were able to re-open the next day. The repairs are now in the hands of the insurance and the first quote estimated costs of £4,000."

A police spokesman could not confirm if anyone had been charged.