POLICE have issued an appeal to trace witnesses who were forced to scramble to safety when a car was driven into the front of a shop in Clacton.

Shop owner Suresh Theivendram last month told the Gazette he was lucky to be alive following the incident, which happened on January 2 at 1.30am.

Clacton Police this week said it wanted to trace a number of witnesses who were in the Old Road Convenience Store when a blue Renault Megane appeared to have been deliberately driven into it.

A 30-year-old man from Walton was arrested the same day on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a building and has been bailed, pending further enquiries, until February 29.

Investigating officer, PC Angela Finn said: "Our investigation is continuing and we want to speak to these people who we believe were in the shop at the time that this happened.

“We need to speak to them to get their accounts of what happened.”

Mr Theivendram said the car smashed through the large glass window at the front of his shop before speeding away.

It careered into the shop counter, destroying shelves and sending chocolate bars and crisp packets flying across the store.

Customers inside the shop were forced to scramble out of the way.

The witnesses are asked to call PC Finn at Clacton Police Station on 101.