A FAMILY celebrated Christmas together after spending four months apart after their home was wrecked by a teenage driver.

Katy's Well Cottage in Coniston Cold, collapsed when a stolen car smashed through the stone gable end wall in August.

It brought tons of masonry raining down on Robin and Anne Strange's bedroom and trapped their daughter, 20 year-old Julie, in her room.

The Audi car was driven by a 16-year-old youth, who had taken it without his father's permission.

Initially the youth was sentenced to four months' detention and training by Skipton magistrates after admitting aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.

However, on appeal, the defendant had his sentence reduced to 160 hours community service and he was ordered to wear an electronic tag for three months.

The Stranges argue that the price they've had to pay has been much harsher than the penalty imposed on the defendant.

They have had to live apart for the past four months in different bed and breakfast accommodation while repairs costing £70,000 have been carried out.

Son Jonathan, 30, whose own bedroom was the only one not to be damaged in the incident, said the family had been disappointed to hear about the sentence.

"It's been a nightmare. We're all still suffering. This has been a four months sentence for us. We have been split up all the time."

Jonathan added that all the structural work on the house had now been completed.

Mrs Strange told the Herald she had just wanted the house to be theirs again.

She added: "We will be alone as a family at last because up to now there has always been somebody around doing work.

"It will be marvellous to have Christmas together, even if everything is not quite finished."