A motorist is facing accusations that she ploughed into a cyclist during an alleged road rage crash in south west London.

The woman, who police said is in her 30s, was arrested on suspicion of attempted grievous bodily harm after she allegedly hit the cyclist in her Audi Q7.

The cyclist, described by witnesses as an autistic man who was wearing a badge to highlight his disability, escaped with a cut on his arm following the incident at 6pm on Saturday in Park Road, Kingston-upon-Thames.

Shortly before the collision, the pair were involved in a "heated argument" in which the cyclist kicked the car, Scotland Yard said.

The motorist is then said to have hit the cyclist and crashed into a parked van before careering into the front of a nearby hairdressers, The Park Salon and breaking the shop's bay window.

She was taken to a south west London police station and bailed until a date in September. Witnesses said she had five children in the car at the time of the crash.

The cyclist was taken to hospital by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service but discharged later that evening.

Local councillor Andrea Craig, who arrived at the scene in the aftermath of the incident, said it was "luck" that no one was seriously hurt.

She said: "It was very shocking to arrive at the scene because the bike was so mangled. It was a relief that the [cyclist] was ok."

She continued: "That is a two tonne car and it has done so much damage in a short space of time - it is incredible. It was just luck that no one was injured."

Angela Bulbeck, who has owned The Park Salon for 17 years and worked there since she was a teenager, said she spoke to the motorist shortly after the crash.

She said: "She kept saying repeatedly that she was sorry. I just said it didn't matter if there was no loss of life. We are just hoping she is insured. She drives a very fancy car. I think that is what saved her children's' lives."

She said the salon would be remain closed while repairs were carried out.

She added: "It is quite a shock when your shop is mashed up. But buildings can be repaired and lives cannot."

Detectives from Kingston CID are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8721 5880.