A powerful 4x4 car left a 100-metre trail of devastation before crashing through a window into the front room of a house in Greengates.

Stephen Oxley, 43, of Harrogate Road, had a lucky escape after the car smashed into and destroyed the bay window of his house, coming to rest in his garden. He was taken to hospital for checks but was not seriously injured.

Driver Hemlata Patel, 35 - who police believe may have collapsed at the wheel - was also in hospital last night.

She is understood to have had a sauna at Eccleshill Swimming Pool before getting back into her automatic Mitsubishi Shogun car. Officers say it appeared to have gone out of control as it was leaving the car park. It smashed through a wall, destroyed two trees, crossed Jamie Court, knocked down a fence, careered down some steps and through Mr Oxley's front garden, before ploughing into his living room.

Mrs Patel was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital for checks.

Mr Oxley said: "I heard the crashing of wood and stood up and saw a Shogun coming towards the house. I dived over the chair and think I've done something to my neck. It's done an enormous amount of damage - thousands of pounds."

Firefighter Alan Ramsay said: "The window of the house has caved in and it's demolished that whole part of the building. Police and ambulances were at the scene and we were required to make the vehicle safe and also make the building safe.

"The lady driver was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital. The occupier of the house was rather shaken up and at first was very concerned about his cat which he thought was under the rubble, but it turned out it was running around outside."

PC Roy Moorhouse of Shipley police traffic unit said: "We don't know whether the driver passed out, lost control of the vehicle, or was not used to that particular vehicle."

The car was removed from Mr Oxley's front room last night.

Mr Oxley said: "I've been to hospital and I still feel a bit knocked up. I've sprained my neck according to the doctors. Other than that I'm not injured apart from suffering from shock."

PC Moorhouse said he would be interviewing the driver today to hear her version of events.

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