A New Forest widow who returned home last week to find the front of her bungalow wrecked is demanding action on road safety.

Marjory Wright had spent the afternoon with a friend when she came home to learn a Mercedes had careered off the road and smashed into the side of her home.

Beautiful flowers at the front of her house, a large length of fence and a lamp post had all been destroyed by the 77-year-old male driver of the car last Tuesday.

A surveyor had to be called in to tell builders where to erect scaffolding around the car to ensure the roof of the house on the B3055 between Brockenhurst and Sway didn't collapse.

Marjory, 80, said: "Something should be done about this road. The cars fly around this bend at night. The police put up speed traps quite often but they can't be here all the time.

"I thought I was in the wrong place when I came home after the accident. I couldn't believe my eyes. I had some little pansies in a pot I was really proud of but they've been smashed to smithereens.

"I just can't understand how the driver did it. He didn't leave me any kind of apology note or anything, just passed his insurance details on through the police.

"To say I was horrified is to say the least of it. I'm afraid."

PC Steve Harding, who attended the incident, said he sympathised with Marjory's concerns.

But he said the police had to concentrate their efforts on other New Forest roads, such as the A338, where there were several serious and often fatal accidents every year.

A decision had yet to be made on whether the Mercedes driver would be charged with careless driving. Hampshire County Council said there were no plans to improve safety on the road.