AN ELDERLY man whose car left the road, soared over a stream and smashed through the conservatory of a family home has been described as "very, very lucky".

The Rigg family from Ireleth Court Road, Askam, were shocked to discover a Nissan Note wedged in their conservatory after a 73-year-old man lost control of his vehicle yesterday afternoon.

Amazingly, the only casualty was the family's Christmas tree.

Leanne Rigg, 25, was at home when the accident happened around noon yesterday.

She said: "I was just sitting on my computer and I felt something like an earthquake - the whole house just shook. I went out to the conservatory to have a look and was just shocked."

After discovering what had happened, Miss Rigg immediately dialled 999 before turning her attention to the driver, who had managed to climb out of the vehicle.

Emergency services soon arrived at the scene and the family described their work as "superb", in addition to the help they received from Mike Crowe Building and Construction.

Miss Rigg's father, Graham, said: "We can't thank them enough and we can't believe how quickly it's all been sorted out.

"The police were superb sorting out all the traffic and Crowe's have just been brilliant."

As the family begin to piece their home back together in the run-up to Christmas, they are hugely thankful that the only serious casualty was the Christmas tree.

Mr Rigg said: "This is just bricks and mortar. It's very lucky that no-one was hurt so that's the main thing."

Miss Rigg's sister Lorna, who described the scene as looking as though "a flying car" had hit the house, added: "Our main concern was for the driver - he was very, very lucky. Possessions are just possessions but a life is a life."

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