A man has pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a parking space dispute left another man fighting for his life.

John Crowley, aged 44, has also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving after the incident in West Street, Weston, in November.

Crowley, of Spring Hill in Worle, has admitted he drove into Peter Cox, who was standing in a car parking space at around 10.45am on November 30.

Mr Cox received serious and life-threatening injuries, including significant damage to his ribs, lung damage, bruising and liver abrasions.

At the time, it was feared Mr Cox would not survive, and Crowley was initially charged with attempted murder.

No formal plea was entered in response to that charge, and in May, the Crown Prosecution Service revised the charges.

Instead, Crowley was accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and dangerous driving, and he pleaded guilty to both offences.

Witnesses at the time of the incident reported how Crowley drove his car into Mr Cox, who was thrown against the bonnet and collapsed below the vehicle, which proceeded to run him over.

Their reports, read out to magistrates in December, said Mr Cox was pulled under the car.

Crowley said someone was standing in the space he was about to park in, when his foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator.

West Street traders expressed their shock over the incident at the time.

Mark Croud, who runs Scatterbox in West Street, told the Mercury in November: “I wish him (Peter Cox) and his family all the best.

“It was a shock to see him lying on the pavement. I just hope he gets better.”

Crowley has been disqualified from driving.

He will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on June 19.