Pictured: Newsagent's shop wrecked after driver loses control of her car and smashes through front door

But all that changed in just a few seconds when a driver lost control of her car and ploughed through the front door.

The impact caused two sides of building to collapse before the first floor gave way and crashed to the ground.

Amazingly no-one died in the carnage and the four people in the shop and the driver of the car survived with only minor injuries.

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The devastation caused after a driver ploughed into a newsagents in Manchester. The impact caused two sides of building to collapse before the first floor gave way

Last night they were counting their blessings that they escaped with their lives after the horrendous smash.

James Ascott, 29, had just popped out to buy a paper and was chatting to newsagent Gary Wood when there was an enormous bang.

He said: "It's amazing nobody died." he said. "I came with my dog to get my newspaper as usual.

"I was talking to Gary when I heard what I thought was a bomb going off.

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"I didn't see a car coming into the shop. There was a big, massive bang and everything collapsed in front of me. I was lucky not to cop for it really."

He and the shopworker Mr Wood, were unhurt in the accident on Timperley, near Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

But Mr Wood's partner Jackie was pinned behind the car's bumper and the driver was trapped inside the car.

Both men tried in vain to shift heavy pieces of rubble so they could get to the trapped woman and driver but they had to abandon the rescue because the first floor was beginning to collapse on them.

Mr Ascott, a bricklayer, said: "We tried our best to get to Jackie. She was screaming for him and he was screaming for her but the rubble was so heavy.

"Gary and I realised we couldn't get any further and there was a chance of a ceiling coming in on top of us.

"In the end we had to get out through the back door."

The emergency services were called and firefighters winched the Vauxhall Tigra a few inches away from the building and managed to rescue both the female driver and the trapped woman through the passenger door.

They were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. A third shop worker was treated for shock.

Mr Ascott said: "I'm just glad we are all alive. It could have been much worse. The shop is normally packed at that time of day.

"There are usually kids hanging around. It's unbelievable nobody else was hurt.

"At first Gary and I thought it was a bomb. We only realised it was a car when we got outside. That made a bit more sense. Who would bomb a newsagents?'

A police spokesman said officers were examining what caused the car to leave the road and demolish the building.