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Neighbours stop drink-drive suspect as car ploughs into Black Country house

Two walls, a car, a door and part of a kitchen were destroyed when a suspected drink-driver ploughed into a house in the early hours.

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A car ploughed into a house causing major damage to the kitchen

The house on the A4098 Great Bridge Road, Moxley, was left seriously damaged and has since been boarded up after the crash happened at around 2am on Saturday.

The homeowner was asleep in bed when the car smashed into the front wall of his house, where the kitchen is, and knocked out a sink, worktop and cupboards.

The front of the property was left badly damaged

Neighbours helped the man, known as Paul, from the building and also managed to detain the driver of the car, who was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

A wall and fence separating the driveway of the damaged house and the property next door were also knocked over in the crash, and the homeowner's car was damaged. Nobody is thought to have been injured.

Neighbours rally to help

Stephanie Lockley, who lives next door to where the crash happened, said: "He was in bed at the time.

"He was still in the house for about 15 minutes until we could get him out.

"He was not quite sure what happened, but he knew it was his house.

A fence and wall were also ruined

"Neighbours pulled him out through the back of the property.

"He was really shocked, but we're very close and we had it under control – I called the police.

"We had the man on the floor, who was the driver, so he was very grateful for the help."

The aftermath of the crash

The homeowner, who is retired, stayed with a neighbour after the crash – due to there being no electricity or water at the house.

Ms Lockley, 31, added: "With it being a bank holiday, he's having problems with the insurance and the electric and water is off.

"We were all awake until 6am making sure it was safe. It's now been boarded up.

"Innocent people are affected when people crash into houses like this – that's what's really frustrating about it."

"He's without a car because they smashed into his."

Police and firefighters called

Around 17 firefighters attended the scene, with crews from from Bilston and Willenhall turning out.

The fire service's Technical Rescue Unit was also on hand to help remove the car.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "Originally there was two appliances and then a Tech Rescue appliance as well.

"There would've been around 15 to 17 firefighters at the scene."

The house has been boarded up

A West Midlands Police spokesman added: "Police were called to reports that a car had collided with a house on Great Bridge Street at around 2:10am.

"A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and is currently in police custody.

"Enquiries continue and anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, or call 101 anytime quoting log number 296 of 20 April."

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