Police today praised members of the public who raced to help pedestrians injured after a car went out of control and careered across a busy main road in Shrewsbury.

Witnesses saw people dash for safety as the Rover shot backwards down Claremont Hill and across Barker Street at about 2pm yesterday.

It finally to rest after smashing into a hoarding at the site of Claremont Baptist Church where building work has been taking place.

The scene in Barker Street, Shrewsbury, in the aftermath of the accident

Sergeant Claire Greenaway, who took charge at the scene, said: “Thanks to the efforts of the emergency services personnel and everyone else who assisted – including members of the public – the incident was quickly under control and we were able to reopen the area again within little more than an hour.”

A pharmacist who was one of the first on the scene today said it was lucky more people were not hurt.

Maxwell Hodson, who was working in Rhodes Chemist in Claremont Hill, said he rushed out to help a teenage boy and a woman who were injured.

Mr Hodson said: “I was with the woman, making sure she didn’t move if she had spinal problems. The ambulance arrived very quickly.

“I’m surprised more people weren’t hurt. The lad was unconscious initially but seemed okay at the end.”

Two of the other boys the injured teenager had been with were taken into the chemists to be looked after while emergency services dealt with the more serious casualties, he said.

“We think they both jumped out of the way. One had hurt his head and the other his ribs,” Mr Hodson said.

Deborah Galliers, who was also working in the chemist, said she rang for an ambulance when the incident happened.

Emergency serices on the scene in Barker Street, Shrewsbury, after Monday's accident

Charles Lloyd, a fish and chip shop owner from Baschurch, who was in estate agent’s Halls in Barker Street at the time, said: “I heard the noise and commotion and all kinds of things go through your head.

“Then I saw the bin bouncing across the road.”

He said he had stayed with the injured teenage boy until the ambulance arrived about five minutes later to make sure nobody attempted to move him.

“It was lucky there wasn’t a car coming past at that point, as there were a lot of people around the area,” he said.

Emma Hughes, from Open All Flowers, added: “It is just amazing more people were not injured.”

Her comments were echoed by ambulance officials, who said it was “remarkable” more people were not caught up in the incident in Shrewsbury’s town centre.

Emergency services at the accident scene in Shrewsbury

And ambulance officials said it was “fortunate” no-one suffered very serious injuries in the incident in the Claremont Hill and Barker Street area yesterday afternoon as the area was busy.

Four ambulances and a rapid response vehicle were called to the scene, while the Midlands Air Ambulance set off from Cosford but was later stood down by crews prior to landing.

The driver of the car was taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in the aftermath of the incident, along with five pedestrians hurt in the incident.

But a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the incident could have been far worse.

“Fortunately, no-one suffered very serious injuries and given that it happened in a busy street, it was remarkable that more people weren’t caught up in the incident,” she said.

Two of the casualties – a teenage boy and a woman in her 50s – were taken by ambulance to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with possible serious injuries after being struck by the vehicle.

Two other teenage boys were treated at the scene by ambulance crews, one with a rib injury and the other with a cut to the head. Both went to the same hospital after for assessment and treatment.

A seven-year-old boy also suffered bruising as a result of the incident, but was treated at the scene and found not to be in need of hospital treatment.

By Chris Burn