Some of the cars which were smashed into the low wall at the plantation in South Esplanade during severe weather early on Saturday. (Picture by Tim Lee, 0689780)

SEVERAL car owners had a shock when they went to pick their vehicles up on Saturday.

The force of the sea had displaced several cars which had been parked overnight at South Esplanade. Strong winds and the high tide resulted in waves coming over the wall and battering the road – eventually forcing its closure.

Tim Lee, 31, who works at Collins Stewart, and his girlfriend went to collect their car at 1.30pm.

‘I couldn’t believe it. Our car and three others were smashed right into the wall. One even had its front wheels right up on the walkway, which is about a foot high,’ said Mr Lee.

Their Citroen Saxo had been parked halfway along the road, in front of Credit Suisse and several other cars had been forced up against the wall. ‘It had been shunted diagonally across the parking spaces and was wedged up onto the walkway.’