A mother and her young children had a frightening experience in the car wash at Morrisons in Ripon recently.

Seven-year-old Arthur and Hector, who has recently turned three, were in their child seats in the back of Helen Mars' car.

She feared that the boys would be injured, when the rear windscreen wiper arm and blade was ripped off by a roller.

Mrs Mars told the Stray Ferret:

Before driving into the car wash in her Suzuki Alto, Mrs Mars put a long polythene sheath over the rear windscreen wiper arm and blade.

She said she received it when she paid for the car wash and followed the instructions given by a member of staff in the petrol station shop.

When problems occurred, Mrs Mars followed written instructions at the car wash by sounding her horn over and over again. But no member of staff came to her immediate aid.

With the car wash still part way through its cycle, Mrs Mars re-started the car's engine and drove out.

It was only then that staff came forward.

Mrs Mars, who lives in Kirkby Road said:

That cost £75, but Morrisons has refused to pay.

The Stray Ferret contacted the supermarket giant to seek the company's response to what Mrs Mars said.

No response has been received at the time of going to press.

However, Mrs Mars has provided an email dated April 26 received from Morrisons' insurance team.

The email said:

It added the equipment was not faulty and the company was "unable to consider your claim further".

The Stray Ferret visited Morrisons on May 3 and May 4 and discovered the car wash was closed, awaiting repair. It has since reopened.

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