The BP shop and forecourt at Kates Bridge, near Thurlby, opened yesterday morning at 11.30am, after the building was propped up by scaffolding.

The car crash happened just after 1pm on Monday.The woman driver was given first aid and checked over by ambulance crews.

Shop manager Gladys Wright said: "It is business as usual. Repairs won't be carried out until the insurance people have come out and at this stage, we have no idea of the costs involved, but the building has been propped up so it is safe to open.

"We would like to thank all of our customers for supporting us."

She paid tribute to cashier Karen Edwards, who was working in the shop when the crash happened.
Mrs Wright said: "She called the police and she did everything she was supposed to do. What's happened still hasn't really sunk in for anyone at the moment though."


Earlier, a coupl who were in a flat above the petrol station spoke about their lucky escape.

Ted and Janet Woodward had only moved into the flat on Saturday.

Mr and Mrs Woodward, who were left shaken, but unhurt, had been getting ready to go shopping when they heard the large bang.

Mr Woodward said: "We just heard this really large noise. It felt like the tremors when we had the earthquake. We just carried on getting ready and had no idea there had been an accident until we went downstairs.

The couple said they were fine, and had no problem staying. They had been advised to avoid the front of the building for the time being.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crew manager Martyn Street said: "Our first job was to make the building safe.

"We knew it was a petrol station, so there was the added danger that it was in a potentially flammable atmosphere.

"If shoppers had been in the shop, then there was a danger it could have collapsed on top of them."

South Kesteven Building Control division was also called out to check the building's safety, as it was classed as a dangerous structure.

A spokesman for the council said: "The car had damaged the middle support column, which supported the roof, so they advised the fire service on replacing that and helped with the painstaking task of assessing the rest of the damage."