A CAR ploughed through a garden fence and came to rest just feet from where families were relaxing. Fortunately, the residents of Evelyn Close in Strood were in their houses rather than their gardens when the Ford Escort careered off Station Road and through the fence.

It plunged down a steep bank and finally ended up on its back over two gardens. The driver escaped with minor injuries, but families believe it could be just a matter of time before someone is killed in a repeat incident.

They are now calling for a crash barrier and speed bumps on Station Road. Joyce Parfett, 70, of Evelyn Close, was in her bedroom when the incident happened. Her son, Barry Suckling, 45, had been watching the World Cup replays on television.

Mrs Parfett said: "I was very frightened. There was a huge crash and I looked out of the bedroom window. By the time I had come down the police were already there, so there was not much I could do.

"It's happened a couple of times before, so I was not completely surprised, but I shudder to think what might have happened if we had been in the garden."

Neighbour Fraser West, 38, had been in the garden the night before the crash at 9pm - the time of the accident. He would like speed bumps and a crash barrier on Station Road, behind their house. His partner Nicola Boynton, 38, said they worried about their two nine-year-old daughters and a son aged 12.

"Someone will get killed unless something is done," she said. "We have told the council we need a crash barrier but they said the road was not dangerous enough. It's happened before and it's getting to the point where you worry about your children being in the garden at all."

Insp Peter Tongue, of Kent Police, said a patrol car had been in the area when the incident happened. The male driver, who was alone in the Ford Escort XR3i, took a breath test at the police station.

Insp Tongue said: "We took one person into custody for a breath test and are still investigating."