A driver has caused thousands of pounds of damage to a Clevedon car dealership after crashing on to the forecourt and writing off three vehicles.

Simon Davies arrived at his car sales business – Just VW at Kenn Road, Kenn, near Clevedon – on Saturday morning to find a driver had ploughed on to his sales forecourt.

The driver of the car had lost control of his Renault Laguna and crashed into three cars, before ending up on the other side of the road.

Police were called to the crash, which happened at around 3am, by a passerby, and a 26-year-old man from Clevedon has been charged with driving with excess alcohol.

The driver wrote off an 04 plate Ford Ka worth £2,795, an 04 Toyota Yaris priced at £4,500 and an 04 plate Nissan Micra for sale at £3,600. He managed to avoid hitting a fourth car also parked on the forecourt. The accident also caused substantial damage to the bollards and chain link fencing erected around the car sales area.

Mr Davies, who has been a car dealer for several years, only opened the new business in April. Mr Davies said: "I had a phone call from a friend, who lives just round the corner, on Saturday morning to tell me there had been an accident.

"The driver was travelling out of Clevedon and mounted the high kerb at the front of the forecourt and took out the bollards before hitting the cars.

"He hit the Nissan Micra at such force he moved it back 18ft. All the cars have been totally written off as a result of the accident and what I found on Saturday morning was a scene of utter devastation. It was the last thing you expect to see happen to your business."

As well as the damage to the cars, the bill to repair the damage done to the forecourt is also expected to run into a few thousand pounds – taking the total bill for the accident to around £20,000.

Mr Davies, 32, added: "By the time the insurance assessors have been out and everything is repaired, I think it will probably be Christmas before I am back open and trading as normal again.

"It's not just the damage to the cars and property, but the loss of trade I will suffer until I am back open. It is lucky it didn't happen in the day, when people may have been on the pavement."

Police confirmed a 26-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident. He is due before magistrates next month.