The family of a volunteer who was killed when a car driven by an elderly man smashed through a Petts Wood charity shop window have demanded a change in the law.

James Harris, 87, has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving after he crashed into Give2Give in Queensway in August last year.

Harris' vehicle careered into the shop after exiting Morrisons car park, hitting 67-year-old Mary Hambrook and trapping her underneath the vehicle.

At the time of the incident, witnesses told News Shopper how they rushed to help and described the sound of the impact as a "great big bang" and "like a bomb going off".

READ MORE: 'Like a bomb going off': Witnesses describe moment car ploughs into Give2Give charity shop in Queensway, Petts Wood

Ms Hambrook was taken to hospital but died of her injuries three days later.

Burn marks around both tyres and the shop carpet indicated the vehicle was under acceleration, with the front wheels spinning for some time after the vehicle had been brought to a stop.

Collision investigators suggested the accident may have been caused by pedal confusion.

Harris, of Beaumont Road, Petts Wood, blamed the crash on a mechanical fault in his car, but it took a jury at Blackfriars Crown Court just 15 minutes to come back with the death by dangerous driving verdict on Monday (November 13).

But because Harris has dementia, he was given an absolute discharge, meaning he will not face any punishment.

Now the family of Ms Hambrook have issued a statement demanding a change in the law.

The statement said: “Although we will never get over the tragic loss of our loved one and the huge hole it has left in our family, we at least have some closure on what has been the worst year imaginable.

"One of the hardest things to accept is the lack of remorse throughout this time shown by Mr James Harris. How anyone can take a life and feel no remorse is devastating.”

It said: “The law needs to be changed to prevent this all too frequent occurrence where elderly drivers kill innocent people through impaired reaction speed and pedal confusion.

"Mary/mum was a healthy, vibrant and the kindest of ladies; she spent most of her life selflessly caring for others.

“She was the heart of our family. We now have to move on with our lives without her, but we will always treasure the memories and good times that we shared together".

Kathy Staig, who was in the store at the time of the crash, told News Shopper in 2016: "It was when I lifted my arm up to get the blouses down I heard this dreadful noise - it was like an explosion.

"I just turned to the right, the whole shop frontage came in front of my eyes, followed by the car whizzing at speed."

"I was gradually turning round and the devastation in there, everything was destroyed," she added.