VILLAGERS are calling for speed calming measures after a suspected drink driver ploughed into a wall, two fences and a car before his vehicle flipped - finally came to rest on its roof in the garden of a house.

The Vauxhall Corsa is believed to have been travelling at speed when the driver lost control in North Bitchburn, near Crook, County Durham, at about 4am on Saturday, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Residents say the car crashed into a wall and two fences before it hit a parked Citroen Berlingo on North Bitchburn Terrace with such force that Berlingo spun around and collided with a Vauxhall Combo van parked behind.

The careering Corsa then hit a telegraph pole, knocking out the street’s electricity supply, before ending up on its roof in the garden of a terraced house.

Police, firefighters and paramedics attended the incident and the driver, a local man in his mid-20's, was taken to University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City with non life threatening injuries.

Durham Road Policing Unit tweeted shortly afterwards: "Three vehicle collision in North Bitchburn. Male driver believed to be drink driving. Currently at hospital."

They later confirmed that the driver refused to take a blood test at hospital to measure the amount of alcohol in his system.

The accident comes just weeks after a car collided with a fence further down the village’s main street and fed-up residents claim the majority of drivers ignore the 30mph limit.

Allison Fairhurst, who has lived in North Bitchburn Terrace for 15 years, was woken up by the collision and the “horrific” sound brought back memories of when her and her husband’s cars were written off on the street in 2007.

“It is a horrific noise,” she said. “I knew exactly what it was because I have heard it two times before.

“This is the third time it has happened since we’ve been here. It’s a lovely village; the people are so friendly but speeding vehicles are spoiling it for everyone.

“Something has got to be done. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed.”

Neighbour, Alan Corner, whose Vauxhall Combo work van was written off in the accident, agreed, adding: “It’s time something was done. We need speed bumps.”