NEIGHBOURS of a couple whose home was wrecked by an out of control car said they remained “remarkably calm” as the “horror” of the night unfolded.

Susan Bell and her husband Steve were asleep upstairs when a Vauxhall Astra ploughed into their property, on Parkside in Darlington, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A 24-year-old man was arrested in a nearby street on suspicion of drink driving having fled the scene of the incident.

The Northern Echo:

The car in the house. Picture: Craig Stoddart

The force from the vehicle had destroyed part of the kitchen and downstairs toilet, stopping just short of the staircase, which could have resulted in Mr and Mrs Bell and their nine-year-old daughter being trapped upstairs.

The incident had left the couple in complete shock, but Mr Bell did say: “If you can’t feel safe on the toilet, where can you feel safe.”

Next door neighbours Greg and Helen Pattison, who were awoken by the “immense” noise of the crash, described the “shock” of what happened.

Mr Pattison, 32, said: “The noise made it sound like a train had derailed – the vibrations and the bang was immense.

“We threw our boots on and ran out the front and just saw the tail of an Astra sticking out.

“The engine was still running and we could just see smoke and fumes of the car – we didn’t know if there was a fire, but we saw there was no one in the car.

Mrs Pattison, 36, said: “Even for us there has been a huge emotional impact - I have to open the blinds every time I am doing the dishes.”

Eighteen months ago a car narrowly missed the same house when it left the road and smashed through the fence, which has since been repaired.

“Only when we see action taken will we feel safe in our homes,” said Mrs Pattison.

Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington, visited Mr and Mrs Bell to see the “shocking” devastation.

“It is only when you get the chance to meet the residents here that you realise the full impact of it – it will take months for them to fully recover from this,” said Ms Chapman.

“It is essential that action is done to prevent further incidents like this.”

Darlington Borough Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment said he “sympathised” with the family, adding the council will “assist the police with their investigation” and “look at the circumstances of the incident.”