by Hayley Robinson

A car smashed into a house in a road where residents have been campaigning for safety measures.

Ben Newell was asleep in the upstairs back bedroom when a blue Nissan Qashqai crashed into the end of terrace property in Keycol Hill, Bobbing, at about 6.10am last Friday.

The unemployed 32-year-old has since moved out of the two-bedroom rented property, along with his three dogs, and is now ‘sofa surfing’.

It could take up to three months before the repair work is completed and he can return home.

Mr Newell said: "Just the tip of the bonnet was inside.

"I lost a record collection worth between £5,000 and £7,000, a laptop and all my tools. They were in there because I started decorating the room the night before – I’d just spent £250 on paint and stuff.

"Luckily the sofas and the other furniture were moved out the way because of decorating."

Sue Crawford, clerk of Bobbing Parish Council, says problems are caused by residents parking on the opposite side of the row of terraced houses.

Mrs Crawford said: "We managed to get the speed limit reduced to 30mph at the bottom of the hill a few years ago and we’ve been in contact with Kent County Council’s Highways department on several occasions about the parking.

"They did put out a consultation about double yellow lines but it didn’t get the go-ahead because there’s nowhere else for residents to park."

It’s believed the car, which was travelling towards Sittingbourne, was overtaking a parked vehicle when it hit a van causing it to spin into the property.

Firefighters from Sittingbourne gave first aid to the driver who suffered a minor neck injury. Crews also made the scene safe by disconnecting the car’s battery.

Paramedics were called but not needed.

A structural engineer from Swale council was called to assess the damage before the car could be removed.

The road was closed to traffic until 9.30am.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 01622 690690 quoting incident number 22-0177.