A MERCEDES was driven into a pizza shop, destroying its front window and wall.

The car, driven by an 87-year-old woman, crashed into Presto Pizza, at Healaugh Park, Yarm, just after 10.30am on Thursday morning.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said she suffered minor injuries.

Rita Stafford, of nearby 3D Leven Park News, said the car had gone slowly into the front window of the pizza shop, which was not open at the time and was empty.

She said: "The ambulance came and the lady came out and she was managing to walk.

"Police cordoned off the pizza shop and Chinese takeaway next door."

The pizza shop is next to a Whitworth pharmacy shop but it is still unclear whether staff there went out to help the injured woman. It is also not known if there was any structural damage to the neighbouring shops.

A spokeswoman for Whitworth, speaking from the company's head office, said: "Staff aren't allowed to say anything. It is company policy not to comment."