'My wife was screaming... it was terrible': Couple's horror as they flee their home
A couple were forced to evacuate their home after a car crashed into it for the THIRD time. Michael and Veronica Sharrock were inside their home in Leigh when they heard a huge bang that sounded like a 'bomb'.
The couple opened their front door late on Wednesday night (September 11) to discover 'chaos' outside. A Ford Fiesta had driven into their home, on Manchester Road, having taken the junction with Chapel Street 'too fast'.
Neighbours were forced to flee their homes, but were later allowed to return by Greater Manchester Police. Michael and Veronica are still unable to return to their home of 36 years, and are currently staying with one of their neighbours.
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Michael, 74, told the Manchester Evening News: "I was in bed watching television. All of a sudden I heard a bang, I thought a bomb had gone off. All the electrics were sparking it was unbelievable.
“I came downstairs and all the lobby was chaos, it was all caved in. My wife was screaming. It was terrible. The police and fire brigade came and they cut everything off."
Fences and tape surround the couple's home this morning (Thursday), with bricks strewn and damage visible. Michael says he only has the clothes he is currently wearing, with the rest of his belongings still in the house.
“You just don’t know what to do, you can’t go back home," he said. "This is all I’ve got.” The couple say this is the third time a vehicle has driven into their home.
Veronica, 72, said: "We’re exhausted and have barely had any sleep. This is the third time we’ve been hit but it’s the worse we’ve had it.
"The other times it was just a bump, but this time you can see for yourself. I was terrified to open the door when it happened, the electricity went haywire and smoke was coming from the car."
Michael says the Fiesta came around the bend 'too fast' before smashing into the house. He saw two occupants leave the vehicle on foot and head 'around the next street'.
GMP says it was called out to the scene at 10.15pm on Wednesday. No injuries were reported following the crash, while gas safety engineers checked the scene to make sure there was no gas leak following the incident.