The director of a Lancashire estate agency had the narrowest of escapes when a car came crashing through the window of an office he shares with another firm.

Nigel Darcy, director of Nigel Darcy Sales, was smoking in the doorway of the agency office he shares with Whitakers estate agents in Nelson town centre last week, when the driver of an Audi lost control on the road and shunted another car before crashing through the shop window.

A spokesman for Whitakers told EYE that Darcy jumped out of the way just in time, as he heard the car accelerating. Staff looked on in horror.

One said: “I was in shock and horrified when I saw it. How the car did not knock down the building I don’t know. Mr Darcy is lucky to be alive.”

The driver and passenger were shocked but otherwise unhurt, and Lancashire Police said no arrests were made.

The only damage was to the agency windows, which a spokesman described as “substantial”.

A spokesman for Whitakers said: “The first indications are that the driver lost control and hit another car before swerving into the shopfront.

“Luckily the driver and her passenger are fine, but very shocked. All the agency staff are fine other than suffering from shock. One of the team was stood in the doorway and heard the car coming and was able to avoid narrowly being hit by the car.

“The main thing is that everyone is fine but there is substantial damage and it will certainly cost a fair bit to put right.”

Repairs are expected to cost up to £15,000.

Pictures of the scene are below: