FOUR householders had a narrow escape today when a car skidded off a York road and ploughed into two houses.

Police were called to Wetherby Road, Rufforth, after the dramatic crash at 7.15am.

Officers at the scene said a red Vauxhall Corsa left the road on a bend as it entered the village and demolished a wall and railings before colliding with the front of two terraced homes.

PC Alison Grey said no one was hurt in the accident, but witnesses described the male driver as "shaken".

Resident Paul Sandle, 27, was standing in his front room when the car demolished his front door.

He said: "Someone could have been killed today. There was an almighty bang and I thought the bath had come through the ceiling.

"I was in the front room and the next thing my fiance came tearing down the stairs and we found a small car in our front room.

"We called the police and other emergency services who checked out the driver. He was alright, but pretty shaken.

"We're now just waiting to get the insurance assessors round and we are praying there is no structural damage to the house."

Neighbour Jennifer McDowell, whose front door was slightly damaged by a piece of fencing, said the first she knew of the accident was a loud bang.

PC Grey said accident investigators had examined the road.

Updated: 14:20 Thursday, March 10, 2005