Mum crashes into Queen Mother statue in Poundbury square

A mother on the school run ploughed into the side of the monument that was unveiled by the Queen in 2016.

The silver Peugeot 308 knocked over one of the four bollards at the base of the concrete plinth the 10ft bronze statue stands on in the middle of Queen Mother Square in the Dorset village.

The woman, aged in her 40s, and her young daughter were left badly shaken up following the accident.

Pic: StanleyRush/BNPS Pictured: A statue of the Queen Mother erected in Prince Charles' model village of Poundbury has been damaged after a car crashed into it today. A mother on the school run ploughed into the side

The collision comes after people described the layout of Queen Mother Square as a 'dangerous minefield' that was confusing to motorists.

The plaza is a shared space used by cars and pedestrians without any traffic lights, kerbs, road markings or crossing points.

Motorists have also queried whether the statue is a roundabout or not, leading to a 'free for all' for drivers approaching it.

The accident happened at 8.49am today. Witnesses said the woman driver may have been blinded by the low sun before she went into the monument.

Her daughter, who was in her school uniform, was left in tears after the impact and the pair were taken away in an ambulance.

A manager of a local business, who saw the accident but wished to remain anonymous, said: "I was looking out the window as I made coffee and I heard this huge noise and there was the car.

"We went outside and found the lady and child who came and sat with us. They were really shaken up. The daughter was in hysterics. She was only about primary school age - she was in her school uniform and they were on the school run.

"The mother was coming down the hill and the low sun went right in her eyes and blinded her. She panicked and crashed into one of the concrete bollards, knocking it clean off.

"The right hand side of the car went up and over the fixing and the back tyre was up in the air - it was just balancing on it.

"After about 10 minutes the ambulance arrived and they were taken away. They were in complete shock."

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 8.49am of a single vehicle collision in Queen Mother Square in Poundbury near Dorchester.

"Officers attended the incident."

Prince Charles was very close to his grandmother, who died in her sleep aged 101 in 2002.

Designed by artist Philip Jackson, the monument is a replica of the statue of the Queen Mother already in place in the Mall in London.

The square in Poundbury is the only area in the eco-friendly village to be named after a member of the Royal family and commemorates the loving relationship between grandmother and grandson.

The Duchy of Cornwall has been approached for comment.