Reverse parking is one of the more challenging aspects of driving but most manage it without accelerating into a glass-fronted shop front.

For the unfortunate owner of CopyWrite, in Finchley Road, Temple Fortune, an elderly driver's attempt at parking resulted in him mounting the pavement and shattering the shop window last Monday morning.

Shop owner Rob Harris said: "I have been here for 23 years and never have I seen anything like this before.

"The old guy must have pressed the accelerator by mistake and he went straight into my shop. It is lucky that nobody was hurt."

The mystery driver, thought to be in his 70s, took full responsibility for the incident, apologised and waited to talk to police before driving off in his Hyundai.

"I thought he might have called or something," Mr Harris said, "But he left and I haven't heard from him since."