A CAR transporter smashing into a shop front has sparked calls for more parking and weight restrictions in the town centre.

The huge carrier jack-knifed into High Street contemporary furniture store, Mia Stanza, on Friday, bringing down the wooden lintel above the door.

Newspaper advertising representative, Jackie Taylor, was hit on the head and treated in hospital for injury and shock. She was later released.

"She suffered a nasty bump and we understand she has since had to go back to Leighton for a check on her condition. Thankfully she seems to be all right but it could have been so much worse," said shop owner June Lightower.

She and husband Eric were also shocked by the massive vehicle's crash landing.

"No-one else was hurt and there is no damage to our stock. The lintel is temporarily shored up waiting for a loss assessment," Mr Lightower said on Tuesday.

The transporter, travelling from the town centre into Welsh Row had tried to negotiate the bend near High Street. But the driver couldn't swing the massive vehicle round because of a parked car.

"His cab went one way and the rest of the vehicle swung into our shop front, hitting above the door and bringing all the wood work down. It's a wonder someone was not killed," his wife June added.

She believes it's time such huge vehicles were banned from the town centre.

"The streets are just not suitable for them. It was alarming to see the transporter there at all, but we are wondering if it took the route because of the roadworks on the A51 at Reaseheath. These are causing long delays so the driver could have been taking the popular alternative route towards Chester, via Acton," she added.

There have been calls for a weight restriction on through traffic before.

Town councillor Jean Hallam, who has been campaigning for safety measures in Wellington Road, also believes the compact town with its narrow streets is unsuitable for high tonnage vehicles.

"The situation is getting more and more worrying. Our roads are just not built to take all this heavy traffic," she said.

Borough Councillor Steve Hope believes that the parking problem should be tackled.

"There is probably nothing much we can do about the heavy traffic. It is bound to be worse at the moment with the Reaseheath roadworks.

But motorists, including some with disabled badges, are parking without a thought for safety," he said.

Cllr Hope witnessed the aftermath of the crash from his own business premises nearby.

"From what I could see, the transporter driver had no chance to swing his vehicle round because of the parked car," he added.

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