A car dealer says a BMW that crashed into the side of a store in Swindon on Saturday was taken without permission by a drunk driver.

Cross Street Garage, an independent dealer and service centre, told the Swindon Advertiser the silver BMW 120i was one of its vehicles.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene of the crash, on Ocotal Way.

“While the precise cause has not yet been determined, it appears the passenger side of the car left the road, went down into a deep ditch and smashed into both the Go Outdoors building and a street light pole,” the newspaper said.

Wiltshire Police has confirmed that the driver sustained only minor injuries, notably a bloody nose caused by the driver’s airbag inflating.

The BMW is thought to be a write off.

A spokesman for the force said the driver was breathalysed at the scene and blew over the legal limit. He was arrested and taken to the police station.

A registration check of the vehicle showed that it wasn’t taxed and didn’t have a valid MoT.

Officers at the scene found trade plates inside which indicated it was in the process of being sold on.

That was confirmed later on Saturday afternoon when a representative of Cross Street Garage, a car sales and repair firm based immediately adjacent to the site of the accident, released a statement.

A spokesman for Cross Street said: “Cross Street Garage had a customer in this morning to view vehicles.

“The customer was provided with a number of keys to make a decision as to which vehicle he would prefer. The customer decided upon himself to take this vehicle out on a test drive without the permission of Cross Street Garage.

“The local authorities have dealt with this individual and we have left it in their hands.

“We are glad that nobody was injured or hurt in this accident.”

Wiltshire Police have so far been unable to confirm whether the man driving the vehicle has been arrested for any theft-related offences at this stage.

A large dent, measuring a few metres in length and height, was visible in the outer wall of Go Outdoors once the car had been removed.