Car rolls down steep drive and hits house

A car rolled down a steep drive before colliding with the wall of a house opposite.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to Oakleigh Drive, Sedgley, following the accident.

The owner of the Mercedes, believed to live in a house opposite, was taken to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital as a precaution.

The car hit the gable end of the house dislodging bricks and sparking concern the building was unsafe.

A structural engineer was called to the scene at 2.45pm on Saturday and a survey immediately carried out which revealed the house would need shoring up until repairs could take place.

West Midlands Fire Service's technical rescue unit, which is trained to make buildings safe, was called out to carry out the work and remained at the scene for more than three hours as the house was secured.

West Midlands Fire Service said the cause of the collision was still being investigated. Spokesman Nigel Sowden said: "This was a very serious collision. "From the information we have, it seems the car rolled down a hill before colliding with the wall of the house."

Neighbours today said it was "very lucky" no-one had been hurt and said the family of four had all been in the house at the time. They said the owner of the car had been working on the vehicle when it rolled down a steep driveway and collided with the wall.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "I was in at the time and was amazed when I looked out of the window and saw all of the emergency services vehicles.

"I have spoken with the people who live in the house and they told me they thought it was an earthquake at first.

"It is only lucky no pedestrians or cars were on the pavements or road at the time or this could have been far worse."