A shopper at Stafford’s Sainsbury’s store had a lucky escape after accidentally driving her car into the River Sow.

Shocked staff and customers rushed to the woman’s aid after the car plunged an estimated 20ft into the river from the car park at the supermarket, off Chell Road.

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Staff from the store were the first on the scene and were able to help the woman escape from the water after the accident at around 3.20pm yesterday.

The driver of the Volvo Estate escaped without any serious injury and was able to get out of the car on her own.

It is unclear how the accident happened but the car had been parked in a space directly next to the water. It is thought the car crashed through a hedge before careering down the embankment into the water.