A BUSINESSMAN in Alcombe has called for barriers to be put up outside his fish and chip shop after a stolen car ploughed through the window just minutes after he locked up.

The crash at Mick's Traditional Fish and Chips wrecked the frontage and was almost a carbon copy of an accident last year at the same property in which a woman was left paralysed.

The red Peugeot car, which was stolen from Hawthorn Road, Minehead, was embedded in the shop on Tuesday night - the mystery driver ran from the scene at around 11pm.

A large stone plant pot, situated just a few feet away on the pavement, was shattered before the car slammed sideways into the building.

Residents wearing their dressing gowns chased after two youths seen running away, but police have said they have very few witnesses of the smash.

This is the second time Mr Armitage has had a car career into his shop - in May last year, when it was a disused bakery, a vehicle mowed down a couple and crashed through the window.

Mr Armitage had just taken on the leas,e but the accident forced him to delay the opening of his fish and chip outlet which employs six people.

This week he began clearing up the shards of glass repairing the interior - and he has already launched a campaign to have barriers installed on the pavement.

He said: "There are so many near misses on the roundabout outside my shop every day that we need barriers because children and elderly people walk past here all the time.

"I want to see something done before we get another accident during the day, as happened to the couple last year."

He added: "This has been a horror story for me and damage is estimated to be thousands of pounds. I'm just completely gutted because this is a new business after a delayed opening and I have built up customers."

After the driver of the Peugeot escaped, neighbours rallied round and worked until 3.30am boarding up the front of the premises.

Mr Armitage praised the efforts of everyone involved and thanked all those who had helped him after the incident.

"The community spirit was like nothing I have ever seen before. Everyone was fantastic and I can't thank them enough," he said.

"People were boarding up the windows well into the early hours while some who were in their dressing gowns and trainers chased the two youths up the road but they got away."

Somerset county Cllr Colin Hill said the problem would have to be investigated and, if barriers were the answer, then he would certainly back the call

"This junction was looked at after the accident last year and we tried to slow down traffic coming from Porlock but we could now make it a 20mph zone under the safe routes for schools initiative," he said.

"I am not certain to the extent of this accident and whether it was joyriders but if barriers were there they could have caused even more of a mess at 60mph."

Mr Armitage said he was still in negotiations with his insurance company but he hoped to be back in business as soon as possible.

Police are appealing to witnesses to the crash or knows the identity of the driver or any passengers to telephone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.