Occupants of a house got a rude awakening when a van ploughed into their home in the early hours of this morning.

The van crashed into the residential property in Lower Rainham Road, in Gillingham just before 1am today.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: “We were called to a report of a van colliding with a building in Lower Rainham Road, Gillingham, just before 1am.

“Officers attended the scene, alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances.

“The road remained closed while the vehicle was recovered, and the building was made safe, but has since been re-opened.”

A fire engine also attended but was not needed.

The incident comes just days after a car ploughed into the front window of pizza restaurant Papa Johns in nearby Gillingham.

Witnesses close to the pizza takeaway in Twydall Green, Gillingham described hearing a “loud smash”.