RESIDENTS have spoken about a 1am crash on their doorstep when a BMW reversed into a Portswood flat.

The crash made the building structurally unsafe and residents had to be evacuated.

A white BMW 316 collided with a ground-floor flat at The Newlands, Portswood Road, at around 1.30am on Thursday.

Resident Ryan Dockerty, 32, on Kitchener Road said: "I heard a crash, I didn't know what it was at the time.

"I looked out the window but by that angle I couldn't see it. I later heard a lot of people shouting, 'Get out, move'.

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"Then they closed off the road. I saw a fire engine, a couple of police officers, a few firemen, and an unmarked ambulance."

Jakub Hermanski, 18, of Blackfield Road, said: "At around 2am in the morning my mum heard a crash.

"She saw a couple of cars. She was already awake because of the dog. She then saw flashing lights at half four. It wasn't well-lit so she couldn't see anything."

Police and fire services attended, with firefighters on the scene for the next two hours.

Daily Echo:

Hampshire police were called to the scene after a report of a single-vehicle collision at 1.25am.

A spokesperson said: "A BMW had collided with a house.

"The road was closed due to the need to ensure the structural stability of the house."

A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and criminal damage.

He has now been released under investigation.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue sent one fire engine to Portswood Road at 1.40am.

"A car reversed into a ground floor flat, leaving the building structurally unsafe," a spokesperson said.

"Firefighters liaised with residents in the flat above to advise that the building was not safe before handing the scene over to police and the housing association.

"They left just after 4am."

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