Fury for Leeds drivers as cars smashed, dented and scratched following cleaning at drive through Meanwood car wash

Leeds resident Louise Williams and her fiancé Stewart Lewis took their car to the IMO Car Wash on Meanwood Road on February 25.

Stewart was in the driver's seat of the white Nissan Qashqai and the pair sat in the car as it went through the wash.

When the car had finished its clean, the whole rear window of the car was 'crushed and shattered' - and Louise then took to social media to warn others about what had happened.

Mum-of-one Louise said: "I'm still so traumatised over what happened and I'm just so thankful that my mum, my son or my fiancé's little granddaughters were not in the back seats.

"After it had happened I told them to stop letting others through because the machine was clearly faulty but I was just told that my car was 'just one car' and that there was no fault."

Louise said she had today (Thursday) received compensation from IMO car wash - as IMO referred to the payment as a 'favourable resolution' but that the damage was not at the fault of their machinery.

A spokesperson for the car wash added: "We take all customer feedback very seriously and its always unfortunate on the rare occasion when any incident occurs at one of our washes.

"The damage sustained was no fault of our equipment, unfortunately the driver of the vehicle inadvertently applied the brakes causing contact with the couture dryer. Instructional signage is at the entry of all our washes including the application of brakes during the wash process."

However, although Louise is thankful she has been given the money to pay for the damages, she is absolutely adamant that her fiancé was well aware of the rules regarding brakes and that he did not press the brakes whilst in the washer.

Louise added: "Stewart was in the driver's seat at the time and we were just sat chatting while the dryer was on - the brake was definitely not applied.

"Stewart did say that the owner tried to say something about the brakes after it had happened but he has categorically stated that he did not apply the brakes as he had absolutely no reason to and knows better than to do that anyway.

"He looked into the tunnel at the time and other car's red lights were showing at the back because they were reflecting off red lights in the car wash - but these were obviously not brake lights.

"So many people have commented on my Facebook posts about it saying that the same thing has happened to them, and to expect the same excuse about the brakes from Head Office.

"The fact that they continued to let people through straight after it had happened to me is insane.

"Imagine if we'd had any of our small kids in the back - they'd have been lacerated!"

Louise's post on Facebook said: "Avoid car wash on Meanwood Road. The drive through machine just crushed and shattered my rear windscreen. And the man is still letting people drive through it!!!"

In addition to the 'so many' comments on the post, 19-year-old Courtney McKenzie took to social media on the same day as Louise to share what had happened to his car at the same car wash.

Pictures show dents and scratches in the paintwork of his black vehicle.

Courtney, also from Leeds, posted: "MEANWOOD ROAD CAR WASH

"Can anyone help me on what to do to take this matter further !! Please avoid this car wash at all costs."

He added that he hadn't even had the car a month and he was 'absolutely devastated' that it had been damaged so recently after purchasing so he was 'hopeful the car wash would sort it'.

A spokesperson for IMO Car Wash said: "With regard to the second customer report, our customer services team are investigating this complaint and will be in contact with the customer imminently.

"As I am sure you can appreciate we need to look at all of the circumstances surrounding the incident to enable us to deliver a fair assessment."

Louise said she had been in contact with Courtney to help him get the issue with his car resolved but that company had 'totally ignored him' and were treating him 'terribly'.

The full statement from IMO Car Wash said: "We take all customer feedback very seriously and its always unfortunate on the rare occasion when any incident occurs at one of our washes

"With regard to Miss William complaint we are pleased at advised we have reach a favourable resolution for this customer, the damage sustained was no fault of our equipment, unfortunately the driver of the vehicle inadvertently applied the brakes causing contact with the couture dryer.

"Instructional signage is at the entry of all our washes including the application of brakes during the wash process.

"With regard to the second customer report, our customer services team are investigating this complaint and will be in contact with the customer imminently. As I am sure you can appreciate we need to look at all of the circumstances surrounding the incident to enable us to deliver a fair assessment."