A motorist was killed when his car smashed into the wall of a family home.

The driver of a silver Volvo S-series, thought to be in his 50s, was pronounced dead after his car careered into a neighbour's front garden before colliding with the side of the house.

The incident happened at Barkworth Way, West Chiltington, near Storrington, just before 3pm on Saturday.

It is not clear whether the man was killed by the impact or suffered some kind of blackout or heart attack in the run-up to the collision.

No details of the dead man's identity had been released by police before The Argus went to press last night but the owner of the damaged house confirmed it was a neighbour.

The crash left a gaping hole in his wall and left a large crack in the chimney.

A Sussex Ambulance spokesman said members of the public reported the house was in danger of collapsing and there was a smell of gas.

The owner of the house said: "It was extremely unpleasant.

"The car has come off the road across my garden and struck the wall. There are tyre marks on the garden."

Paramedics from Pulborough and a doctor attended and attempted resuscitation but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another neighbour in Barkworth Way said: "The man who died lives in the street with his wife. It's quite a shock to everyone because it is only a small road and everyone is quite friendly. It seems like a bizarre incident.

"I saw the car and, although badly damaged, it was not crumpled up and you would normally fancy someone to survive an impact like that.

"Their house is empty today. I think some other family members must have taken the poor woman away to console her."

A Sussex Police spokesman said it was unclear how the car left the road and hit the house but he added that no other vehicles were involved.

Gas company emergency workers were also called to the scene to patch up a gas main ruptured by the crash.

The driver is expected to be named later this week.