A LOWER Wick shop, closed for nearly three weeks after a car crashed into its side, is expected to reopen next week.

Ian James crashed his VW Polo into a brick wall on the side of Co-op, in Canada Way, on Saturday, April 9, after suffering a stroke.

The 77-year-old, and a shop assistant in Co-op at the time, were both taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital following the incident. The shop assistant was treated for leg injuries and discharged from hospital the same day, while Mr James spent five days at the hospital.

The area where the car went into the store has been fenced off to the public, while workmen on site have been rebuilding the wall that was demolished, and repairing the shop.

In the three weeks since the crash, Co-op an a pop up shop that was able to provide customers with essential goods.

Miles Plummer, the store's manager, has now announced the Co-op will reopen on Thursday, May 5.

Mr Plummer said: "We look forward to reopening the store in order to serve the local community.

"We are thankful for the patience and understanding locally while we traded from our pop-up shop."

Last week Mr James, who has been recovering at his bungalow in Westmount Close near to the Co-op since the incident, told the Worcester News his "gut feeling" was he would never drive again.