The landlord of a shop in Sandwich is outraged after a driver denied causing damage to his premises.

Gordon Jones, who owns the Sweet Shop in King Street, explained that a van mounted the curb last Wednesday and caused £700 worth of damage when it ripped the sun blind and damaged the joints which connect it to the building.

Mr Jones, of Toll Gate, Deal, explained that it caused a huge disturbance and brought most people out of shops and cafes, including Mr Jones himself.

He said: “It just seems that people can go around damaging other people’s property.”

He claims the driver of the van would not swap insurance details and instead said the damage had already been there. Mr Jones said: “It’s a load of rubbish that people could just say it was already damaged.”

He says he is frustrated about the lack of enforcement from police and the council when it comes to parking in the town.

“They’re such small roads in Sandwich and trucks and big lorries coming into the town which should not be are causing damage,” he said.

“When I bought the shop 40 years ago it was a two-way road and everyone respected that this is an old town for horse and carts but with all the lorries it’s becoming a nightmare.”

Although, the shop is covered on insurance, he explained that shopkeepers Vijay Aanasane and his wife Dipti will have to stump up some of the cash. The couple moved to Sandwich last year to take over the business.

Mr Jones claims as the driver would not give insurance details he was forced to call the police.

A police spokesman said: “This incident was reported as a non-injury road traffic collision and in those circumstances officers don’t always attend. In this instance an officer attended and ensured both parties exchanged insurance details.”

Mr Jones said: “It’s ridiculous. People can’t just park where they like. Somebody coming over the pavement like that, smashing into a blind and saying they didn’t do it – and the police just don’t want to know.”