Drink-driver ‘lucky to be alive’ after crashing into graveyard

A drink-driver is “lucky” to be alive after crashing into a graveyard, according to police.

Police shared images of the wrecked silver car at a Huddersfield church that showed it had missed a large tree by just inches.

“This drink-driver in Lindley is lucky not to have ended up in one of the graves they have just destroyed,” the roads policing unit for West Yorkshire Police tweeted.

The vehicle went through the low wall between St Stephen’s Parish Church to the road and scattered stones across the graveyard, according to the images.

The car’s bumper, bonnet and front wings were smashed by the impact.

The vicar of the church in Lindley, Reverend Canon Rachel Firth, told the BBC: “When a place of rest becomes a place of destruction it is hard for everyone to bear.

“While there is damage to some stones, there has been no disturbance of graves themselves.”

She said the church was working to clear up debris following the incident, and appealed for people in the community to join in and help.

St Stephen’s Parish Church shared images of the section of the wall that had been destroyed, along with the heaps of stone knocked out of place nearby.

“Fortunately, the majority of the damage is to the wall,” Rev Firth added.

“Whatever the circumstances we have offered prayers this morning for all involved,” she said.