Video: Mayor Terry Buckle accidentally drives car into Tesco Express in Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds

The scene of the accident at the Tesco Express store in Bury St Edmunds Archant

The new mayor of St Edmundsbury had a lucky escape after he drove his car through the doors of a Tesco Express store.

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Terry Buckle, 73, who was only made St Edmundsbury mayor last week, is said to be recovering following the drama, which happened just after 4.30pm yesterday at Tesco Express in Lawson Place, Bury St Edmunds.

It is believed the car had lurched forward from a parking bay directly in front of the shop, with Mr Buckle at the wheel.

Miraculously, the Vauxhall Vectra went straight through the front door of the store – rather than hitting the wall – causing little damage to either shop or vehicle. No shoppers were hurt.

The wing mirrors on the car were damaged, while there was minor damage to the doors and security scanning equipment in the shop.

Mr Buckle’s wife Pam, who was not with him at the time of the accident, said he had been released from West Suffolk Hospital at about 9pm last night.

She said: “I had a phone call from the police, who were the first ones at the accident. I went there and went with him in the ambulance.

“He’s home now. He’s fine and he had an x-ray on his neck and he’s just a bit sore. He’s gone to bed with some tablets.”

Mr Buckle became the 39th Mayor of St Edmundsbury during a ceremony last week.

Fellow Moreton Hall borough council ward member Frank Warby said he had spoken to Mr Buckle’s daughter a short while after the accident and had been told that thankfully he was not hurt and had only gone to hospital “as a precaution”.

He said: “Lucky enough he went through the doors and not the wall and only damaged the windows.”

A bystander said it was the second time a car had ended up inside the store.

He said: “Someone has done it before, but that time it was in the middle of the night so there wasn’t any risk to anyone.”

Crowds of people from across Moreton Hall turned out to watch police and recovery services inch the silver Vauxhall out.

Staff inside the shop also took pictures of the car that miraculously only damaged the doors and security scanner.

A senior member of shop staff declined to comment.

Within 10 minutes of the car being removed the shop reopened.

A police spokeswoman said a silver Vauxhall Vectra had driven into the store. She said: “There are no reports of any serious injuries.

“It appears he has driven into the door, there doesn’t seem to be any reports of serious damage.”