The hunt is ongoing for the driver of a car who mounted the pavement on St Peter’s Street.

He is suspected of stealing clothing from Matalan in Griffiths Way at around 2.45pm, and was later spotted driving a white BMW by PCSOs.

The officers attempted to halt the vehicle, but the driver evaded them and fled the retail park.

He then travelled up Holywell Hill and towards St Peter’s Street. It was at this point that he mounted the pavement.

A woman shopping in St Peter’s Street said: “All I saw was he came through where the ice-cream van is by the lights.

“He sped down here and nearly knocked half a dozen people over.

“Children were wailing and crying and people were screaming.

“The police must have been chasing him because straight away they were here and came after him.”

The driver then drove the wrong way up Spencer Street, adjacent to the market place.

Philip Day, who lives in St Albans and was near Dave’s Tasty Bites at the time, said: “He was obviously being chased by the police and then suddenly he was in a queue of traffic waiting at the lights and he couldn’t overtake them.

“He tried to work his way out and he reversed into a lady’s car and tried to do a three-point turn, and then he squeezed behind the ice-cream van.

“He mounted the kerb and drove past the baker’s stall and turned into a one-way street.

“The police couldn’t catch him because he was in his car.

“While it was happening there must have been three or four PCSOs trying to stop him by standing in front of the vehicle.”

Officers were called to the area, but the driver had made a successful getaway.

The police are now appealing for anyone with information about the theft to get in touch by calling 101.