Watch: 'I thought a bomb had gone off - 30 seconds earlier and we would not be here' - Couple speak after BMW destroyed their Telford home

David Gaunt, 81, and his partner Patricia Morris, 80, were preparing to go out on Sunday morning when “all hell broke loose” as the high-powered car smashed into their house in Ketley, Telford and ended up in their front room.

“I thought a bomb had gone off,” said Mr Gaunt. “If it had been 30 seconds earlier we would not be here.”

The incident on Holyhead Road occurred around 10.30am, and the couple would have been killed if the car had hit the house just seconds earlier, Mr Gaunt said.

“Luckily we were going out with family for the afternoon otherwise we would have been sat in that living room. My partner had just gone into the kitchen and had called me in to ask if I was ready yet," he said. 

“So I got up and went into the kitchen and then all hell broke loose.”

He said the “entire house shook” and there was a “huge bang” but neither of them thought it was a car.

“I thought it was a bomb,” said Mr Gaunt. “Patricia was hysterical. It was only when I went into the front room that I saw that there was a car in our living room. It was a hell of a mess.”

He said the couple were in shock, but a pair of passers-by helped them from the property.

“These two really nice gentlemen came in and said, 'we've got to get you out of here, it is not safe', and they helped us out. I don't know who they are but I wish to thank them,” Mr Gaunt said.

He said the pair were looked over by ambulance crews and while not physically hurt, had been suffering mentally since the incident.

They have also now lost the home that they shared together for the last six years as well as their belongings.

“Patricia had lived there for 12 years, I'd been there six. We were happy there. It was our home," Mr Gaunt said.

“They have said we won't be able to go back to the house as it is not safe. We haven't even been allowed back in to get our things.

“We have had to buy new clothes as we have got nothing.  

“We spent two nights in a hotel and are now in emergency accommodation but the council said we could be here through December.

“We have family who are running round to help with shopping and things but they have their own lives. We just want a new home.”

The BMW was removed from the property on Thursday and the property boarded up.

West Mercia Police said the driver of the high-powered performance car was reported at the scene for driving without due care and the Criminal Justice Department will decide what action will be taken, if any.

If anybody wishes to get in touch with Mr Gaunt and his partner with any offers of help, get in touch at: [email protected].

Les Clarke, executive director of housing and care at Housing Plus Group, told the Shropshire Star: “We sympathise with the residents who have been affected by this incident and will continue to support them at this distressing time.”