Mercedes driver ploughs through railings and wedges car in basement of luxury West End block

Finding a parking space in the West End is never easy.

But this motorist and his passenger were lucky to escape unscathed after careering through railings to end up nose-down in the basement of a luxury apartment block.

Families staying in the serviced block opposite Hyde Park today told of their miracle escape as the £30,000 Mercedes came crashing into the building.

Pictures show the driver climb from his up-ended Mercedes C-Class and clamber out of the lightwell after the accident in Lancaster Terrace just after 5.15am today.

A receptionist at Fountain House where serviced apartments sell for over £2 million, said it was “very lucky” that no-one was killed.

He said: “I heard the very loud screeching of tyres as he tried to brake at the last moment. I looked up and saw him go through the railings and down.

“The driver had pulled himself out of the car and was having an argument with himself. He was pretty angry.

“There was a woman in there too who was shaken up but fine it’s a very lucky escape for both of them.

“He wasn’t going crazy over the speed limit and wasn’t being chased, he just never made the turn.”

Swedish tourist Alexander Bergman, 27, was staying in the basement flat with his girlfriend Linn Byman, her sister, Olivia, and her partner, Gustaf Svensson.

Mr Bergman said: “We were all asleep, then was this huge crash of broken metal.

“We feel very lucky, that’s my bedroom window he came through. We didn’t notice how close it was until we pulled back the curtain and saw this car. We only arrived in London yesterday.. what a welcome.”

His girlfriend Linn Byman, 27, said: “This doesn’t happen every day in Sweden. I hope he drives safely from now on.”

The receptionist said there had been no structural damage to the building.

He added: “The firefighters said there is no danger to our guests or the building so there was no need to wake them. But if the crash didn’t, then I don’t know what will.”

A passing TfL worker, 23, said: “I offered to help him out but he did it on his own. The woman was shaken up but was fine, it’s a miracle no-one was hurt.”

A Met spokesman said the driver did not require medical treatment. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and was being interviewed this morning at a south west London police station.