A Deal family abruptly awoken by a car crashing into their living room say they are relieved it did not happen 24 hours earlier.

Judy Littlewood, 47, her partner Greg Hobson, 42, and their son Samuel Hobson, seven, were tucked up in bed when a silver Peugeot mowed down a brick wall and fence and ploughed into their Hamilton Road home at about 2am.

As they dashed down the stairs to see what had happened they saw a car bonnet which had strewn shards of glass and bricks across their front room.

Had it occurred the night before, Ms Littlewood said it could have been a different story.

She said: “We just heard this big bang.

“Greg was first down the stairs, followed hotly by myself. I didn’t want Samuel to see it so I insisted he stayed upstairs.

“What we saw was unbelievable.

“There was glass everywhere. It was covering the sofa and the radiator was hanging off the wall.

“The scariest thing was that Samuel had had the flu and a temperature the night before.

"Because he gets so hot at night I didn’t want him to go up to bed so we were sat on the sofa all night.

“We could have been sat on there.

“If so, we’d have been launched across the room.”

Ms Littlewood did not return to bed afterwards.

Instead, she started cleaning up while her partner, who works for financial firm The Langridge Partnership, in Canterbury, tried to get some sleep.

Workmen boarded up the gaping hole after removing the car and window frame. Temporary heaters have been supplied by the council.

The clean up process continued the following day and the council started repair work on Monday.

Three houses in the terrace now need new front doors due to the impact.

The driver of the car had left the scene by the time police arrived. A passenger remained with the car.

Ms Littlewood said: “I hope those responsible are found. Why should they get away with it? It’s costing thousands.”

She has commended Dover District Council and property maintenance firm Mears, from Thanet, for their excellent work.

Police press officer Natalie Hardy said: “We received a report of a collision at 1.38am on Thursday, February 2.

"A car was in collision with a house. Officers attended the scene in Hamilton Road. No injuries were reported. The driver left the scene.

“No arrests have been made. However, inquiries are ongoing. Officers are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time who may have more information.”