A SUPERMARKET is trading from a temporary 'pop-up-shop' after a pensioner who fell ill behind the wheel drove into the side of the store.

The temporary Co-op shop was serving customers with all the essentials they needed, trading directly in front of the damaged store in Canada Way, Lower Wick, Worcester, today (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, the BP M&S nearby has been inundated with customers and has even had to take on an extra staff member on a temporary basis to cope with demand.

Signs have even been placed in the store, apologising to customers if they find the store has run out of certain items.

We have already reported how Ian James, 77, of Westmount Close, Lower Wick, crashed his VW Polo into the side of the Co-op at around 8.48am on Saturday morning, injuring a shop assistant inside.

The woman, aged in her 30s, suffered serious leg injuries but is now recovering at home according to a Co-op spokesperson.

A spokesperson said: “The store is expected to remain closed for several days for repairs.

"A colleague was taken to hospital as a precaution, but was able to return home later the same day. Our thoughts are with the driver of the vehicle and his family.

"The Co-op is a community retailer and, we apologise for any inconvenience caused during the store's temporary closure.

"We have arranged for a Co-op pop-up shop to be located at the site in order to continue to serve the community with more than 100 popular grocery products and essential items."

The pop-up shops can be used to provide a service to the community when the Co-op has to close a store in order to undertake a refurbishment.

They have also been deployed to maintain and provide a vital service and support for flood affected communities.

Meanwhile, the BP M&S nearby which opened last June has seen a significant rise in the volume of customers because of the unforeseen circumstances at the Co-op.

Store manager Tony Berry said: "We wish everyone involved in this incident a speedy recovery. Our first concern was for them.

"It is great to hear that the team member from the Co-op is okay. It has resulted in a significant uplift in trade at the shop.

"We have tried to react to that extra customer demand. We have upped staffing levels to get the queues through quicker.

"We have also struggled a little bit with stock."

He said a massive stock order was expected tomorrow (Wednesday), including a new summer range of stock.