A WHITEFIELD woman has described her shock after her town centre shop was wrecked after being hit by a bus.

Hilary Ann White, who owns womens' clothing store Hilary Ann International, Deansgate, Bolton, had only finished refurbishment and decorating work on the store two weeks ago.

The shop front was wrecked at about 8am on Monday when the driver of a single-decker bus lost control of his vehicle in the wet weather, mounted the pavement and smashing into the shop front.

The building has yet to be declared structurally sound after the accident, which caused thousands of pounds in damage.

Mrs White, who lives in Whitefield, said she simply could not believe what had happened.

She added: "Had it been at 9.30am when we open, someone could have been killed. We may have been putting dresses in the window or opening the doors.

"It is amazing that the driver was not killed or anyone injured, and that no-one was standing or walking in front of the shop when it hit."

She said: "I'm devastated and I was in shock.

"It has taken us months of hard work to get the shop just how we wanted it."

Mrs White has run the Hilary Ann business from the premises since 1988, but has been in in Bolton for the last 39 years.

Mrs White, who employs seven staff, said: "It is the last five or six weeks before Christmas that the fashion business relies upon.

"It will affect our takings enormously, I can't believe it"

The footpath area around the shop will be closed until structural surveys show that the property is safe.

Mrs White learned of the accident when she was called by the manageress of the shop who had been contacted by the store's alarm company as a key holder.

"I have not been allowed in the building because the upstairs may be damaged and they are worried it may collapse.

"We have just had everything refurbished, the shop front, the decorating, new signs. It will cost a lot to fix, but I'm just glad nobody was hurt.