A priest has "thanked God" for watching over him after he survived an encounter with a lorry on a narrow country road.

Father Robert Lane, vicar of St Peter and St Paul’s church in Borden near Sittingbourne, had been taking his partner Chris Andrews to the dentist when the pair were involved in a crash with the lorry.

Mr Lane’s 18-month-old 4x4 Dacia Duster came to rest in a ditch after it was in collision with one of the lorry’s stabiliser feet.

He said: “We were very lucky. It could have been so much worse if we had been in a smaller family car or we had been cyclists or pedestrians. I don’t mind admitting that later when I was locking up the church I had a little word.”

In a social media post he added: “God was certainly watching over us although I have since realised Chris will do anything to get out of going to the dentist.”

The drama happened just before 2pm last Tuesday in School Lane near its junction with Chestnut Street. Police were called and closed the road while the vehicles were cleared.

Mr Lane, 55, who had also been on his way to hold a class mass for Year 6 pupils at the village’s Church of England primary school, recalled: “Christopher and I managed to get out but our dog Roy was in the back and refused to budge. I had to coax him out. As I had no lead I had to use the belt from my trousers.”

Mr Andrews, 70, walked the pet back to the vicarage. Mr Lane remained with his car and was driven home in it by a police officer. He said: “It made the most horrendous noise and things were falling off but luckily we didn’t have far to go.”

Both men said they were “a little shaken and sore” after their ordeal and later went to A&E at Medway Hospital where Mr Lane was found to have a torn muscle in his shoulder and Mr Andrews was diagnosed with whiplash.

They are waiting to hear if the car can be repaired.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 1.40pm to a report of a collision involving a lorry and a car in School Lane, Sittingbourne. Officers attended to offer assistance while the vehicles were recovered.

"Minor injuries were reported, medical assistance was not required.”

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