Just before 3pm yesterday (Tuesday), the car went straight across North Street East in Uppingham from Somerfield car park, hit a red Ford Fiesta that had been parked in the street, mounted the pavement, then smashed through a wall and railings of the front garden of the property. It stopped just feet from the front of the house.

Police, firefighters and ambulance were on the scene within minutes but the elderly driver was not trapped in the car and no-one was injured.

Neighbour Rachel Rachael Pevy, who lives in the house next door, said: "I heard a massive bang, and looked out to see what had happened. The car had ploughed through the front garden.

"Thank goodness no-one was walking there at the time."

Michael Dickens, of Wades Terrace, whose red Ford Fiesta was parked in North Street East was damaged, found out about the incident when someone knocked at his front door to tell him his car had been smashed up.

His 07 Fiesta was towed away and he was waiting to find out about his insurance.

He said: "I'm glad nobody got hurt, if people had been here they would have been killed."