A FAMILY narrowly escaped being hit by a runaway car as it careered through the grounds of a pub.

A woman motorist, thought to be in her 70s, lost control of her Renault Clio while in a public car park in Guisborough on Tuesday.

The car veered across the car park next to Bells Stores at the junction of Stokesley Road and the Avenue and headed for the Voyager public house.

Witnesses say that the pensioner's hatchback, which was fitted with an automatic gear box, hit two stationary cars, careered down steps to the pub, past a children's play area and the pub's front entrance, smashing hand rails, beer tables, a flood light and a plant tub on its way.

Two adults and two small children, who had been sitting at table in the beer garden, next to the children's play area left the pub moments before the car smashed past where they had been sitting.

Landlord Andy Slaney said: "The family were very lucky. They only left a couple of minutes at most before it happened. It could've been a real catastrophe, especially as it was right next to the play area.

"I thought it was quite funny when I saw the car going past the window, until I saw how serious it could've been and the damage that had been caused."

Landscape gardener John Ranson, who was working in the grounds at the time of the incident, said: "I heard a car screeching and thought it must be someone stealing a car.

"The woman bumped another car and knocked a wing mirror off a barmaid's car.

"She then really flew down the steps, she was really going at a good speed.

"She could have wiped out the family who had been sitting at the tables. They wouldn't have stood a cat in hell's chance."

The car eventually came to a stand still on grass near Stokesley Road.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said there were no serious injuries.

Paramedics gave first aid to the runaway car's elderly male passenger, who suffered leg injuries.

A woman has been questioned by police and released pending enquiries.