A COUPLE whose house was virtually destroyed by vandals now face a repair bill of up to £80,000.

Edward and Trisha Starr's four-bedroom home in Withdean, Brighton, was knocked off its foundations by the force of a runaway Volvo.

Several other houses were damaged when the handbrakes of 19 vehicles were released during a five-hour Brighton crime spree.

Cars were sent crashing through garden walls and into houses during a night of vandalism stretching from Withdean to Saltdean last Friday.

Now builders say the entire front of the Starr's house in Eldred Avenue will have to be pulled down, leaving an insurance bill of tens of thousands of pounds.

mashed

The Starrs were terrified when the front of their £180,000 home caved in as the Volvo smashed into the building at 3.10am.

Mr Starr, 53, said: "At first we thought it was an earthquake and my son, who was staying in an upstairs bedroom, was thrown out of his bed.

"When we went downstairs and tried to get to the front door it was impossible as the whole house had shifted."

The family were forced to spend the night with neighbours before returning in the morning to assess the damage, which was far worse than expected.

The whole house had been moved by the force of the crash and the front of the building must now be pulled down so builders can see what repairs need to be made.

Mr Starr said: "We've been living in that home for 24 years and for the first time we don't feel safe.

"The builders had to come up to stop the place falling down and said the cost of repairs could be £50,000 to £80,000, although we won't know until they pull the front of the house down.

"They've got to rebuild the whole front of our home as there are cracks in every room with scaffolding holding everything up. They are even going to have to check the foundations to see if they need any work."

nsured

Mrs Starr, 52, who said the house was insured for the cost of the repairs, added: "The work will take at least two months but we are not going to leave our home. That would be letting the vandals win."

Two Brighton men in their 20s were arrested after a similar incident early on Monday. One has been bailed to return to Brighton police station. The other is being held in custody for another matter.

However, police have made no arrests in connection with last Friday's incidents.

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