A CAR which left the road at an accident blackspot in Spennymoor narrowly missed a house and demolishing a greenhouse.

Grandmother Norma Askew, whose partner and granddaughter were just feet away having breakfast in the kitchen, fears someone will be killed unless action is taken to improve safety.

Local people, who have been campaigning for crash barriers along Carr Lane, Spennymoor, say there has been a spate of serious accidents in recent years.

Mrs Askew, 51, said she was in bed at 7.20am yesterday when the car landed on the roof of her greenhouse, which stood between the front fence and the kitchen wall.

Two people travelling in the car escaped injury.

"The fence can be put back up and I can get another greenhouse. But what if someone had been walking along there," she said.

"Somebody is going to be killed. There is a footpath there and a bus stop a few yards away. People walk their dogs and kids use it to got to school."

Mrs Askew, whose Kirkdale Road home overlooks Carr Lane, said a car also crashed through her fence in 1998.

Neighbour June Clement, 48, has been campaigning for the past few years to have crash barriers extended to protect the homes along Carr Lane.

She said: "Not many of the accidents have been reported, but this is happening all too much. We have had a petition but so far nothing has been done. Does someone have to be killed before anything happens?''

Her calls have been backed by Spennymoor councillor Ben Ord, who is writing to Durham County Council and the Chief Constable of Durham to voice his concerns.

He said: "There have been a lot of serious accidents here, starting with one near fatality in 1993, when a car hit a detached house. A barrier was put up but we have been asking for that to be extended.''

A spokeswoman for Durham County Council said: "A scheme is being prepared to extend the safety barrier at this location and the work is due to be implemented in June.'