A GRANDMOTHER has told how she is lucky to be alive after a car smashed through a bus stop and ploughed into her front garden.

Freda Lee, of Middleton Road, Shildon, was forced to jump out of the way as a white Ford Mondeo veered out of control and bore down on her as she walked along the footpath outside her bungalow.

She said: "I had just locked the door and was walking down the path when I saw the car flying towards me and I ran across the grass.

"It came right up to the wall and smashed the bus shelter. There was glass everywhere, and a pole from the bus shelter went straight through my front door.''

Mrs Lee said the driver of the car appeared to be unhurt.

"I asked him if he was alright and he just said 'yes'," she said.

Mrs Lee's grandson, who lives nearby, heard the crash and came running to his grandmother's assistance.

She said: "I am just pleased I had a lucky escape. If I had still been locking the door, the car would have had me.''

Her family gathered yesterday afternoon to assess the damage and board up the hole in the wooden front door.

The bungalow wall has been cracked and the garden wall has been demolished.

Mrs Lee said: "If it wasn't for the bus shelter, it would have come straight through the living room."

Her two-year-old Yorkshire terrier Trudy was in the house at the time of the crash. She was still shaking with fear hours afterwards, Mrs Lee said.

Her neighbour, Les Gregg, who will be 80 on Tuesday, said he was in his living room reading a Sunday newspaper when he heard the crash.

He said: "I saw this white thing coming towards me, but I wouldn't have looked out if it wasn't for the noise.

"Cars always travel pretty fast along here. They use it as a shortcut.''

Sergeant Vince Addison, of Newton Aycliffe police, said a 26-year-old man had been arrested after the crash and was helping police with their inquiries.