AN ice cream parlour boss told how traumatised staff have rallied round to reopen her business ready for a scorching Bank Holiday weekend after a car smashed through the shop’s front window.

Staff and customers feared the worst when the black Ford Focus reversed into Rossi’s Ice Cream Parlour, in Western Esplanade, Westcliff, on Tuesday afternoon.

Manageress Trina, who has run the cafe for 18 years, told the Echo the terrifying moment has still not sunk in for many workers.

She said: “It was like a scene from Fast and Furious with the way the car sped into the shop and the wheels just kept spinning.

“It all felt like slow motion to see the car coming at us. I remember seeing one elderly gentleman stand up and shield his wife from the glass as it shattered.

“I didn’t think the car was going to stop so I ran into the kitchen and warned the boys before coming back and checking everyone was okay.

“Then there was a really loud bang and thick, black smoke started pouring from the car into the shop so we all had to get out.”

Miraculously, nobody was seriously hurt in the crash. Three customers were treated for minor injuries.

Trina, who did not want to give her full name, added: “If it had been a Saturday, this place would’ve been packed with kids. It could’ve been much worse.”

One man, who was sat outside the cafe at the time, described being showered with glass as the car struck.

Rob West, 58, from Southend, said: “We were sat next to an elderly couple outside enjoying the sun and sea and they were showered with debris and broken glass, narrowly avoiding the direct collision.

“Thankfully there were no serious injuries, although the people on the table next to us were lucky not to have been killed.”

Despite being traumatised, staff returned to the cafe to open up at 8.30am yesterday in time for a busy weekend, with temperatures set to soar to 27 degrees celcius.

Trina added: “When we heard from the insurance company that we were opening the day after, I was really surprised.

“It still hasn’t sunk in for any of us and you never know how shock is going to affect people.

“One of the girls was unable to go to college because she was still so upset. After the car hit she was white as a sheet and really vacant.

“It kind of feels like going through the motions at the moment and we’re just functioning because we have to.

“But all our regular customers have come in to see how we’re doing. One person brought us some lovely flowers. It’s nice to know that they care about us.”