Runaway lorry chaos in town centre

Pedestrians fled as the driverless lorry crossed Bradshawgate and ploughed into a row of shops after demolishing a bus stop sign and a lamppost.

Majid Azim was trapped inside Bradshawgate Taxis for more than half-an-hour.

The 27-year-old, who works as an operator at the taxi firm, said: "I was just going out when the truck came right at me and trapped me inside. If I had been a few seconds earlier, I could have died."

Mr Azim started to panic. He was unable to get out of the back of the building because of a high wall. Police eventually reversed the vehicle a few feet to create a gap at the front of the office so that Mr Azim could scramble free.

The driver of the N-registered JWS lorry was picking up a skip near to Breightmet Street but found it was too heavy. He went to ask for assistance when the accident happened at 1.20pm.

PC Phil Marsh said: "It's unbelievable that no-one was hurt."

Three shops units were damaged, including the taxi firm. Top Choice Asian takeaway was closed and no-one in Keys and Key Services would comment on the incident.

Pedestrian Abdul Hady, aged 73, of Church Road, Bolton, was inches from being hit.

He said: "I was walking along the pavement after locking up my shop and had just passed a man walking the other way. If I had been a second faster or he slower we could have died."

"I ran over and opened the door to the lorry. I thought the driver had died because I couldn't see him.

"Luckily, there were no cars going past or anyone waiting for a bus."

Shaun Blackburn, a workman from Widnes, said: "The lorry was picking up a skip on the opposite side of the road but it was too heavy so the driver went down to get help. While he had gone it rolled away."

The lamppost was still connected to the live power supply and highways engineers from Bolton Council were called to repair it.

Police cordoned off part of the road, but traffic could still flow in both directions. Police are investigating.