Residents had a lucky escape when a car smashed into their homes.

Two terraced houses were damaged when a Vauxhall Astra crashed down an embankment and embedded itself in their front doors.

All the people inside the homes, on the corner of Sonora Way and Quinton Road on The Meads estate at Sittingbourne, escaped injury. But the driver of the car was treated at the scene by paramedics.

It is not known if hospital treatment was needed.

Sittingbourne firefighters were called when neighbours reported smelling gas. It was feared the force of the impact had ruptured a gas main.

The crew isolated the gas to one of the homes and also disconnected the car battery to make the area safe.

No one was available at either house today but a neighbour said crash barriers should be installed to improve safety.

Police confirmed they were called to the crash at 5.10pm yesterday.

A spokesman said: "Officers attended but no injuries were reported."

No arrests were made.

The houses did not need to be evacuated but the front doors were boarded up and huge cracks were visible in the brickwork.

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