A Buckinghamshire woman has revealed how a trip to a supermarket car wash turned into a terrifying experience when part of her car dropped off at the end of the cycle.
In addition to the trauma of being stuck in the car wash, Sheila Walker now fears the loss of her right to a future cheap car insurance deal after becoming concerned that the supermarket might not cover the cost of the damage.
The 44-year-old took her Rover MG for a wash at her local Morrisons in Temple End, High Wycombe, which she does every week because she claims a bad back prevents her from cleaning the car herself.
As her car was being dried, she heard a loud noise and realised something was wrong. She said, "I was on my own and all of a sudden there was a great big jolt and loud bang. It just scared me to death.
"I was too scared to even get out of the car because I didn't know whether it would start again. I didn't know what had happened."
Eventually summoning up the courage to get out of the car, she discovered that the large spoiler at the back of her Rover had dropped off and was hanging by wires only inches from the ground. Staff in the petrol station had to re-set the machine before the manager removed the damaged vehicle from the car wash.
Morrisons have emphasised that a sign is situated near to the car wash clearly stating that anyone with a spoiler should not use the machine, and no liability will be accepted if they do.
Gary Bolton, the supermarket's spokesman, said, "It's up to our insurers to decide whether or not there's a case. It would be in their hands. But there's a clearly visible sign.
"We have taken Mrs Walker's details down and we will file it with the insurance people as a matter of course, but the sign is clear."
Craig Handy from CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, the expert car insurance for women providers, commented, "If there was a sign, then it's possible that the lady's motor insurance providers may be paying out for the damage and not, as she hopes, the supermarket."