Three pensioners escaped apparently all but unscathed from a crash which left a car embedded in a shop window and a second vehicle smashed into a lamp-post.

The owner of the shop involved also had a lucky escape as the drama unfolded in a North Yorkshire town centre street.

No one was inside the store, Hall Bags and Cases, at the time of the accident in Yorkersgate, Malton.

Shop owner Alison Hall returned minutes afterwards and burst into tears at the extent of the damage to her business.

Three senior citizens inside the two vehicles, a red Vauxhall Nova and a black VW Polo, were unhurt in the accident but were left suffering from shock.

Two went to hospital for treatment for shock, while a third was checked by paramedics at the scene.

After she recovered from her distress, the shop owner told the Evening Press she could not believe her eyes when she was confronted by the sight of a car sitting halfway inside her property.

"We had the shop front entirely redecorated a couple of months ago - I can't believe it's all going to have to be done again," said Ms Hall.

"Hopefully the insurance will cover it."

Staff at Wallis Business Services, in Yorkersgate, said though they did not see the accident they heard an "almighty bang".

"We went to see what had happened and couldn't believe our eyes," said one member of staff.

Hugh Cholmley, from Rillington, helped the drivers and passenger out of their vehicles immediately after the accident.

He said: "I didn't see it but I walked round the corner seconds after it happened.

"I went and got three stools from a nearby pub for those involved in the accident.

"The lady in the Nova seemed to be trapped slightly so I managed to get her door open and get her out.

"They all seemed OK but I kept an eye on them just in case delayed shock set in - the paramedics arrived soon afterwards and took over."

Updated: 14:43 Thursday, May 24, 2001