AN out-of-control car smashed through a brick wall and metal fence before ploughing into the front of a terraced house.

Terrified neighbours described a ‘massive bang’ and the ‘whole terrace shaking’ when the blue Volkswagen Golf careered into a bay window.

The impact left the bonnet of the car protruding into the lounge of a house in Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle.

The vehicle was left suspended about eight inches off the ground with its back tyres resting on the remains of the wall and the front balancing on the window sill.

Glass, oil and debris covered the pavement after the smash, which happened close to the Hare and Hounds pub early yesterday.

Police said the male driver of the Golf had been heading along Thwaites Road towards the junction with Blackburn Road shortly before the accident happened.

The owner of the damaged house, a 50-year-old man, said he was upstairs sleeping when he woke ‘with a jolt’ at around 7.30am.

He said: “It was such a shock.

“There was an enormous crash and I knew immediately it was close.

“I looked out and could see the car had gone straight into the front of the house and could see the wall had come down.

“I ran downstairs and outside. My first thought was making sure no-one was injured, which thankfully was true.

“The window has been damaged and the frame broken and buckled but hopefully the structure is okay.

“The bay window has only been in for a few months as I’ve been doing up the house.

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“The front room was the first one I’d finished so this has set me back. I’ve been on to the insurers to sort it out.”

Neighbour Emma Bell, 24, lives two doors away.

The mum-of-two said: “There was a massive loud crash.

“It sounded like a lorry had smashed into the terrace.

“Our car was parked at the front and the Golf had clipped it and damaged the front bumper before smashing into the house.

“I’ve already got one insurance claim because of another incident where a car overshot Thwaites Road and ran into mine.

“It’s lucky no-one was in that room, as with all the flying glass and debris someone could have been seriously injured.”

Thwaites Road resident, Mary Cobbold, has lived on the street for 35 years.

She said: “I heard the crash, it sounded bad but I’m thankful no-one was injured.

“Over the years there’s been countless traffic incidents.

“I’ve had a car plough into my garden on one occasion.

“There was a fatality a few years ago when someone was knocked over near the pub.

“Drivers should just take more care, slow down and be a bit more thoughtful.”

A Hyndburn Council spokesman said building control staff attended the scene yesterday and said that despite the damage the building was structurally sound.

A police spokesman said the driver of the Golf had been spoken to after the incident and inquiries were ongoing.

They added that no arrests had been made in relation to the incident.