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Driver explains how his car flipped onto its roof at Oaten Hill Place in Canterbury

A bewildered pensioner who flipped his car outside a pub claims his foot slipped as he tried to park.

Barry Clements, 70, was left trapped in his Citroen for more than an hour after it overturned in Oaten Hill Place, Canterbury, on Tuesday evening.

Stunned onlookers from the nearby Old City Bar rushed to his aid and called for help, with an entourage of emergency vehicles quickly on the scene at about 6pm.

The incident in Oaten Hill Place
The incident in Oaten Hill Place

Mr Clements says he was trying to park outside his house when he hit a Nissan Micra and ploughed into a 2ft garden, sending his car spinning onto its roof.

His partner, former city councillor Michael Steed, said: “He was parking the car and moving it forward to occupy the space he usually parks in.

“My first thought was that Barry must have blacked out but he says he remembers his foot slipping. It got trapped and the car bounced off the one in front then hit the garden wall and flipped.

Emergency services were called to the scene
Emergency services were called to the scene
A car overturned in Oaten Hill Place, Canterbury
A car overturned in Oaten Hill Place, Canterbury

“Several people heard the bang. It must have been a very frightening experience.

“We both are quite shook up. We didn’t sleep that well last night.”

Mr Clements was cut free from the car by firefighters and taken to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital to be checked over, but he escaped unhurt.

Mr Steed, 77, who lives with Mr Clements in Dover Street, said: “His leg was trapped for more than an hour.

“The neighbours were very helpful. They managed to get everything out of the car, including my wheelchair.”

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