A CAR mounted the pavement in Downing Street and knocked over the lamppost outside Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe for the second time since December on Monday evening.

The latest incident happened at around 10.10pm on April 9, and comes just weeks after a lamppost in the exact same location was replaced after a hit and run in the early hours of December 2, badly damaging the sweet shop’s 18th century shopfront.

On this occasion the lamppost and car avoided the shop - but again the driver failed to stop or report the collision to the police, which removed the lamppost in its entirety in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Posting the news on Facebook, sweet shop owner Liz Simms said: “Thank you for driving into the lamppost - I’m sure you will report your accident. (I have reported it too). Good job I haven’t repaired the shop window after the last irresponsible driver did the same! Such is life.”

Liz also praised the police for its “very swift service”.