A FAMILY was woken by a car crashing into their home.

Single mother Jean Bisicker, 45, rushed downstairs to find a stolen white Vauxhall Astra wedged in the front doorway.

"I just heard a big thud and I looked out of the window and saw this white car sticking out of our door," she said.

"Seemingly, whoever was in it had got out and run away. The door was cracked down the side and I tried to put the key in, but I couldn't open it.

"The gas meter and the gas box outside the house were all smashed up. I was panicking."

Mrs Bisicker, of Ruskin Road, Darlington, rang the police, who told her and her daughters, Kelly, 14, and Sophie, four, to stay at the back of their council-rented home.

"They thought there might be a gas leak so they had to ring Transco to come and check. Then they removed the vehicle. We couldn't believe it. But we have so many joyriders around here we are not really surprised. It's a nightmare."

Police had seen the car speeding down Geneva Road moments before it careered into the house.

"It was travelling so fast that it was out of sight before we could catch it," said Sergeant Philip Grieve, of Darlington police.

"Whoever was driving it had little regard for their own safety. That was about 2am, and at five past two we got the 999 call from Mrs Bisicker."

He said the suspected stolen vehicle appeared to have veered out of control outside Mrs Bisicker's house.

Neighbours reported seeing a man in dark clothing fleeing the scene on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01325) 467681.