Joyrider's bungalow smash

It's thought the Jaguar's airbags saved theboys, aged 15 and 14, from being seriously hurt, but the car, belonging to the father of the younger boy, is believed to be a write-off and damage to the bungalow is estimated at tens of thousands of pounds.

The crash happened in the early hours of Friday morning on a bend at Angmering Lane, on the private Willowhayne Estate. Reg and Dorothy Daniel were shocked to see the full extent of the damage to their home and garden in the full light of day.

The Jaguar XK convertible hurtled out of control over the grass verge, tore through the 12ft high conifer hedge, tore up shrubs as it ripped across the lawn and finished up embedded in the side of the bungalow.

Said Mr Daniel: "It was 2.30am and we were both asleep. I heard the noise but thought it was thunder. Half an hour later my wife got up to let the dog out and called me to say there was someone at the door. It was the police.

"When I went outside in the dark, I could see the Jaguar embedded in the wall, but it was only in the daylight that I realised how bad it was. It was ghastly.

"My first reaction was one of concern and alarm, and whether it was safe to continue living in the property."

Large cracks have opened up in the outside wall of the bungalow and against a chimney breast, and inside the lounge, more big cracks can be seen in the plaster.

A preliminary inspection by a surveyor has indicated that a large part of the wall will need rebuilding at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds. The surveyor confirmed, however, that the bungalow was structurally safe.

The couple have also been devastated by the trail of destruction across their front garden, after investing much time, effort and money in the 13 years they have lived there.

Mr Daniel, who was a personnel and legal adviser with a major international company before retiring, said speed was a major problem on the private estate and residents were also becoming increasingly concerned about the behaviour of young people. The estate's residents' association, of which he was a board member for eight years until recently, started hiring private security patrols a few months ago.

It is understood the boys left the scene of the crash. The 15-year-old driver suffered a broken leg and the other boy was less seriously injured.