TWO women and two children had a miraculous escape when their car crashed through the garden wall of a home in Southampton.

The saloon plummeted through a brick wall and pillar, ending up in the front garden of the property in Bitterne Park.

Neighbours dashed out of their homes in Nursery Road after hearing a crash about 2.15pm yesterday.

Residents were greeted with the bizarre sight of the car filling the front lawn outside a house - with the top of the damaged brick pillar resting on the boot.

Witnesses said the ornamental stone sphere had landed on the vehicle's bonnet before ending up at the rear of the car.

Two women and two small children inside the car - one of whom was strapped into a baby seat - were left dazed but uninjured in the incident.

A couple living at the house also escaped unharmed in the freak accident, which happened near the junction with Oak Tree Road.

One resident said: "The noise was very loud. Everybody was wondering what on earth had happened.

"I think the car just missed the corner and went into the front of the house. There was no other car involved. Luckily no one was hurt."

Police, ambulance and fire crews attended the scene after a resident raised the alarm.

The car was towed away by a recovery truck within an hour.

Neighbours helped put up scaffolding to support the broken wall as a temporary repair measure.