A GANG of criminals subjected villagers to a night of terror.

A stolen car crashed into a house during a police chase during a series of incidents at Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Wendy Bielby, 53, of Low Garth Road, said she heard a big bang and rushed downstairs to find her front room lit up with blue police lights and car headlights.

She said: "I've seen things like this on television, but you never expect it to be you.

"If it hadn't been for our ornamental wall, they would have crashed into our front room."

She could see the silhouette of a car just outside her window.

Police watched stolen property fall from the open boot of the W-registered blue Peugeot as they chased it through the village's streets.

Officers are now hunting two men who fled from the accident scene at about 4am.

The Peugeot had been stolen from a house in Foster Walk, where burglars had taken the ignition keys as well as a video, television and mobile phones.

The occupants were asleep upstairs at the time of the break- in.

The burglary and chase are being linked to a series of incidents in the area in the early hours.

In Pasture Way, a distressed woman called police after seeing an arm reaching through her letterbox and try to grab a key.

A resident in Elmet Avenue reported that five men had just tried his front door.

Earlier, a witness saw six men get out of a white E-Registered Volvo in Low Garth Link at about 3.40am.

The car, which was Leeds registered, had damage to its ignition and was later found to be stolen.

Detective Sergeant Dave Pegg, of Selby CID, said they believed the incidents were the work of a gang that is travelling up and down the A1 corridor and raiding different communities.

He added their method was to burgle houses, steal car keys and load goods from the homes into the stolen vehicles before making off.

A description of the two men who fled from the Low Garth Road accident has been issued.

The driver is described as a white male, wearing a blue and white striped jacket and a baseball cap.

The passenger is described as wearing a dark brown top and having light brown hair.

Selby officers are working with West Yorkshire Police and are urging further witnesses to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Selby CID on 01904 669651.

Updated: 14:18 Wednesday, January 23, 2002