A car dumped by joyriders careered down a street and smashed through her garden fence, narrowly missing a woman's bedroom, a court heard.

Doreen Britton, 63, who lives at the bottom of Hallwood Green in Ravenscliffe, was woken by a loud bang at 4.50am today.

When she drew back her curtains she saw a silver Ford Orion only feet away from her bedroom window, with its windscreen wipers still going.

Residents on the formerly quiet cul-de-sac say it is being used as a dumping ground by joy riders, who police confirm have deserted seven cars in the street in the last ten days.

Mrs Britton said: "I think whoever stole it literally jumped out of it at the top of the street and the car rolled down the hill and across the grass towards my house.

"The only reason it didn't smash through my bedroom was that it hit a stone pathway which changed its direction. This is a warning of what could happen if the police don't stamp out the problem."

The pensioner believe the thieves used the street as there were three snickets at the bottom of the road for escape routes.

Neighbour Mary Sanderson, who has reported three stolen cars to the police, said it was a miracle nobody had been hurt over the past ten days.

"They should put a gate or barrier at the top of the road and only give a key to people who live down the street," she said.

Sergeant Gerry O'Shea of Eccleshill CID said the dumped cars were being stolen from as far away as Leeds and North Yorkshire, although the Ford Orion was stolen locally and left without its handbrake on.

He said: "This type of behaviour is highly reckless and could lead to serious injury.

"The Eccleshill Community Action team has been tasked to deal with this problem and is pursuing a line of enquiry which we hope to be fruitful in the near future."

Anyone who saw the latest incident or who has any information should call Eccleshill CID on 01274 376085 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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