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Abstract

A shop owner from Archway who just hours earlier had celebrated winning a prestigious retail award had a chunk knocked out of his trophy by a reckless motorist.

Luckily Ian Morris, co-owner of the Map Gift Shop in Junction Road, escaped unhurt as his gong for Independent Gift Retailer of the Year in London took the full force of the impact of the collision with a car in Holloway last Friday.

A bag carrying the trophy was hit by a car which failed to stop at a red light on the pedestrian crossing at the junction of Fairbridge Road and Holloway Road. Luckily, Mr Morris escaped unharmed as the car sped off.

“The car came steaming across the road and almost knocked me over,” said Mr Morris, who co-owns the shop with Kathryn Phalp. “I think it’s because of the works they’re doing at the bridge [near Upper Holloway station]. The drivers become really frantic.

“Luckily, I was not physically hurt. I took a step back and the bag with the trophy hit the car. It made a huge bang but the car just carried on. There’s no excuse for it. This is the second time this has happened to me.”

The night before, the Map Gift Shop owners had received the gong at The Greats retail awards at Grosvenor House Hotel, in Park Lane, Mayfair.

Mr Morris said: “I think we do well because we constantly change the stock in the window. We offer free gift wrapping and good service. The shop is very much part of the community. People pop in here to find out the latest news.”