An elderly driver who knocked over an 86-year-old pedestrian before ploughing through the front of a florist is set to escape charges.

The 83-year-old woman was driving a blue Mazda automatic with an 83-year-old passenger when it mounted the pavement, hit a pedestrian and smashed into The Flower Shop in Chandler’s Ford.

The pedestrian was taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital with a broken pelvis and the driver was also admitted suffering from shock.

The driver voluntarily surrendered her licence to police immediately after the accident but officers had to wait days before the two were in a fit state to be interviewed.

A police spokesman said: “No charges have been brought and they are unlikely to be. We could press charges to stop the woman driving but as she has surrendered her licence it would be a waste of time and money.”

Police, air ambulance, paramedics and fire crews were called to the incident, shortly before 12pm on July 24.

The area was sealed off and the neighbouring Fryern Dental Practice and The Flower Shop had to be evacuated amidst fears the smash may have caused structural damage.

Despite part of its roof caving in the florist was back up and running the following day.

The driver has now recovered and the injured pedestrian is back at home and is expected to be able to walk unaided within the next eight weeks.