A driver and a resident had an amazing escape today when a car hit a telegraph pole and lamp post before crashing through a wall into a garden in the Black Country.

The car missed Paul Mullett and his dog Jess by inches as they were returning home from a walk.

At just before 7am the car careered off the road in Burton Road, Dudley, and landed in Mr Mullett’s front garden.

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Accountant Mr Mullett, aged 49, said: “I had crossed the road and was walking down the drive and just about to go through the door when I heard a crash behind me. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I turned around and saw the wreckage. Had it been 10 seconds earlier I would have been where the car landed and would have been killed.”

The driver, aged in his 20s, escaped with minor injuries and firefighters helped him from the mangled car.

The crash happened within yards of Dudley fire station in Burton Road and crews disconnected the car’s battery to make sure it did not burst into flames.

They called council workers to inspect the damage to the telegraph pole and lamp post.