An out-of-control stolen car tore the back off a parked car before careering across three gardens and ripping a gas supply from a house.

Damage - Brian McFarlane cleans up the debris caused by the crash at his Greenstead home

The smash happened in Forest Road, Greenstead, Colchester. After hitting the parked car, which was shunted into another stationary vehicle, the Citroen ZX continued over the grass and down into a house, where it hit the gas supply, causing a leak.

Brian McFarlane, 42, was asleep in his house when the car hit it just before 1.30am on Saturday.

"I heard a big bang and I felt the whole house shake. When I went outside, there was a car against my house and someone was running off," he said.

Fire crews called to the scene shut off the gas before Transco arrived to sort out the damage, and Mr McFarlane is hoping to have a supply restored early this week.

The driver of the stolen car was described as white, aged 17 to 19, slim, about 5ft 4in tall, with short blond hair. He wore an England top with white track-suit bottoms and a shell suit top.

A police spokesman said the Citroen had been reported stolen, and appealed for anyone with information about the incident or the driver to contact Colchester police on 01206 762212.

Published Monday, September 6, 2004

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