Saturday afternoon ‘panic’ as car smashes into Bathgate store window

Saturday shoppers were left shaken after a car smashed through the front window of a discount bargains store in West Lothian.

A car crashed into the front of the Home Bargains store in Bathgate. Picture: Kirsty Cochrane

Damage was caused to the front of the Home Bargains store on Whitburn Road, Bathgate when a car crashed into one of the windows at around 2pm on Saturday.

It is understood the vehicle came careering towards the store after being hit by another car.

Police, fire and ambulance services raced to the scene after being informed of the collision.

The driver of the car that smashed into the window suffered minor injuries.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We attended a road traffic collision on Whitburn Road after receiving a call from the ambulance service at 2:14pm today.

“Police and ambulance were in attendance.”

Eyewitness Kirsty Cochrane, who took a photo of the incident, said there was panic among shoppers when the car smashed into the store.

She said: “I was in with my mum and we just heard what sounded like the cages at the front of the store falling over and a few panicked screams.

“We looked down the aisle and saw the white car had crashed into the front of the store. We’ve no idea how this happened, but the staff in Home Bargains were fantastic and escorted all customers out quickly and calmly. “I only hope that anyone involved is okay.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We attended a two-car road traffic collision at Home Bargains on Whitburn Road after receiving a call from the ambulance service at 2:14pm today.

“Police and ambulance were in attendance. Fire service provided scene safety.”

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