A FAMILY narrowly avoided injury when a car smashed through their living room wall in the early hours of the morning.

The Wells family, who live in Holmesdale Close, Loose, near Maidstone, were asleep in their beds when a white BMW crashed into their front room at around 12.20am on Saturday. The driver received minor injuries to his hands and head.

Although the family escaped from the incident unhurt their home was badly damaged and a structural engineer was called to check it was still safe to inhabit.

Tim Wells, 17, says that he and his family - including his parents, his older brother and his girlfriend and their baby daughter - heard cracking and splintering sounds in the house following the crash, and are not sure what they will do now.

He said: "During the night cracks appeared. They weren’t very sure if it was safe to stay in but we had beams in to hold the ceiling up."

A Kent Fire and Rescue crew from Maidstone were called out, but were not required at the scene.

Maidstone and Malling Police believe that the driver may have been drinking prior to the crash.

Insp Ian Hunter said: "It looks like the driver left a nearby public house, lost control and ended up in a front room."

A man was arrested in connection with the incident.

* See this week's Kent Messenger for a full interview with the family.