BAR steward Geoff Smith could not believe what was happening as his car ploughed through garage doors at Upton Social Club, dragging him for 50ft.

Firemen had to cut Mr Smith free from his Ford Granada automatic after the accident last Sunday morning.

He was trapped by his right leg, which was jammed between the car door and a wheelbarrow against the garage wall. Mr Smith said he had left the engine running while he opened a gate and was getting back in when the accident happened.

"I have arthritis in both hips and got in very awkwardly. Then, with one leg in and one out, I must have hit the auto-switch into drive," he said.

"It went forward at a rate of knots. I couldn't believe it.

The car demolished part of the rear wall of the garage. Mr Smith, 45, escaped with just a grazed leg and sore shoulder.