A mother and three children were inches from disaster when a car crashed into their home last night.

Five-year-old Harry Ducasse was sitting on his mother's lap when the car collided with an outside wall close to where they were sitting in the lounge.

His mother Nicola said: "It was very frightening.

"We heard three bangs and thought someone was trying to break in."

The crash happened at about 11.30pm at the junction of Roderick Road and Firle Road in Peacehaven.

Mrs Ducasse was with her son and two daughters Dominique, 18, and Aimee, 16, at their home in Firle Road when two cars collided outside.

A passenger in one vehicle suffered back injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

The driver and two other passengers had minor injuries.

A man and a woman in the second car ran from the scene. Police are investigating.

Firefighters from Roedean and Newhaven went to the crash scene and a heavy rescue tender was called from Crowborough to move the vehicles.

Both cars hit Mrs Ducasse's property. One demolished part of a fence and the other crashed into the wall.

The impact cracked the outside wall and building inspectors were expected at the scene today to assess the damage.

Mrs Ducasse said the junction was dangerous because vehicles speed on a hill in Roderick Road just before the junction.

She said: "We have not had a crash like this before but it did not come as a surprise. Even so, it was very scary.

"Luckily, none of us was hurt."