How is this for a lucky escape?

A Lichfield lodger has told of his miraculous escape this week when a car smashed into the room where he was relaxing on a sofa.

Jake Ashbolt, aged 23, who lives with the Lewis family on Tamworth Road, was lying on a sofa using a laptop when a car ploughed through the wall.

The impact sent him sprawling across the room. The silver Mitsubishi GPX careered straight through a fireplace and landed in the dining room at around 10.30pm on Tuesday night.

IT student Jake reckons he would've been killed if sat just a metre or so across the couch, as his head was left just feet away from the car's bumper by the time it had destroyed the house wall.

He said: "One minute I was lying on the sofa relaxing, and the next thing I knew there was a Mitsubishi in my bedroom.

"I heard lots of screeching and wheels spinning but I didn't know what it was, because I could not see the car. God knows how I got out of it to be honest, it was a bit of a shock.

"I'm lucky to be here. The bricks smashed a hole through the door, so I crawled out and my mate dragged me out."

Jake, who only sustained cuts and bruises from flying rubble, was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield after the smash but was sent home after four hours.

Interior designer John Lewis, 53, was upstairs with wife Kim when the car struck, said: "What happened is a miracle really.

"We were upstairs at the time when we heard an enormous bang, followed by a loud whirring noise like the engine of an aeroplane."

Mr Lewis's son Simon, 23, a close friend of lodger Mr Ashbolt, leaped to save his friend and pulled him through a hole in the dining room door.

A 32-year-old Lichfield woman was arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs following the accident.

She was later released on police bail pending further inquiries.