A VETERAN hairdresser, who was run over by a ‘furious’ driver, is calling for better policing of a pedestrian zone.

Jeff Stone, who has been running Jeff Stone Hairdressing, in Fleming Square, Blackburn, for 41 years, said he was trying to explain to a ‘reckless’ motorist that the road was a no-car zone, when he was pushed to the ground and then knocked over.

Mr Stone, 64, suffered injuries to his left leg, knee, neck, and right elbow during the assault and said that other passers-by had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit.

He said: “I had a verbal altercation with the driver of the black BMW, who was driving in what I consider to be a reckless manner.

“He pushed me into the street and then he told me that if I didn’t move, he would run me over, and then he did.

“He reversed the car and drove straight into me and I ended up on the bonnet.”

Mr Stone was due to go on a walking holiday through Europe next week but said depending on how quickly his knee recovered, he might not be able to go.

He said: “I could not stand up and was shaking very badly.

“After some rest, I drove home and went straight to bed, but I did not sleep that night.”

The entrance to Fleming Square has a no car or motorcycle signs, but Mr Stone said some drivers either ignored the signs or did not understand what they meant.

He said: “This is a pedestrian street but people routinely drive up it in contravention of the signs.

“It is only accessible lawfully by a barrier for local residents and bank staff and we have disabled clients who can get down the street.”

Mr Stone, who lives in Brinscall, Chorley, said he wanted to see the reintroduction of no entry signs for the road.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

She said: “Darwen patrols attended the scene and are looking into CCTV and taking witness statements.”

A spokesman for the traffic department at Blackburn with Darwen Council said that a change in government rules meant the council would be able to put up no entry signs to the road without affecting cyclists.

He said: “We will look, now that we have the authority, to change the signage.”