A New Forest pensioner caused devastation when his car ploughed into the side of an elderly woman's home.

Onlookers said it was lucky no one was killed after the 77-year-old male driver's Mercedes saloon careered off the road on a bend.

The Milford resident knocked over a signpost, a small lamp-post, flowers and two pillars supporting part of the roof of the house before finally coming to a halt more than 70 yards after leaving the road.

Builders and a surveyor had to be rushed in to erect scaffolding to ensure the bungalow did not collapse when the car was removed.

But as police and recovery crews left four hours after the incident occurred, the 85-year-old female occupant of the house on the B3055 between Brockenhurst and Sway still had not returned home.

Neighbour Jose Jackson said: "I don't know how she'll react. I heard the accident.

"The noise was horrific. I was terrified someone might be underneath the car."

PC Steve Harding, of Lyndhurst traffic police, said: "The lady who lives here hasn't returned home yet. We'll leave a note for her so she knows what's happened.

"She'll be pretty surprised. I've been in the New Forest all my life and I've never seen an accident like this before."