A shocked shopper said she is "very lucky" to have avoided serious injury after a height restriction barrier crashed through her windscreen in a car park.

Elizabeth Painton was in the passenger seat when the height restriction barrier collapsed at Oxford Retail Park in Cowley yesterday (Thursday, December 28).

The metal structure crashed through the windscreen inches from where she was sitting.

Oxford Mail: Barrier collapse at Oxford Retail Park

She said: "It was about 12.30pm and we were just driving to M&S.

"All of a sudden there was an almighty explosion and half of the height restriction barrier came down and smashed through my side of the windscreen.

“It was such a shock. I just put my head down.

"This big metal thing was right next to me. If it had been inches closer I’d have been dead.

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"It was right across my side and across to the steering wheel where my husband was sat."

Mrs Painton said the accident caused "a great deal of damage" and both she and her husband "are very shook up".

"The barrier landed inches from me and I'm very grateful that it wasn't much more serious," she added.

Oxford Mail: Barrier collapse at Oxford Retail Park

“We were very lucky. I just don’t like to think what could have happened if it had come down on somebody on a bicycle or even a pedestrian."

Mrs Painton said other startled shoppers rushed to the scene to help.

“People were very, very kind and came running up to us," she said.

"Two witnesses said they had reported that the barrier was loose on Christmas Eve."

Oxford Mail: Barrier collapse at Oxford Retail ParkShe added: “I’m just grateful my grandchildren weren’t in the car. I have a panoramic roof and what if that had smashed on them?"

Oxford Mail: Barrier collapse at Oxford Retail ParkM&S and Savills have been contacted for comment.