AN elderly resident at a sheltered housing complex had a lucky escape after a car crashed into her ground floor flat.

But staff at Margaret Matthews Court, in St Albans Close, Even Swindon, said the accident could have been 10 times worse and they are just relieved no-one was injured.

"The elderly lady who lives in the ground floor flat usually sits in a chair right next to the wall where the car came through," said scheme manager Sandra Fitzpatrick.

"Obviously she was very shaken up after what happened but luckily she was at the other end of the room at the time. Who knows what would have happened otherwise."

The accident happened just after 11am yesterday.

Mrs Fitzpatrick said that the driver of the automatic Citroen was a woman who was visiting one of the residents.

"Apparently she realised that she wasn't parked very well so went to move but didn't realise she was still in the drive gear when she turned the engine on.

"And she just went straight into the wall." Fire engines from Swindon and Westlea attended the scene.

They used specialist equipment to secure the building and made sure it was stable until a Swindon Council housing inspector arrived.

The impact caused serious structural damage and three of the flats have now been declared as unsafe and residents have had to be moved out.

"The residents are our first priority and we wanted to make sure they were safe and well," said Mrs Fitzpatrick.

"The lady on the ground floor appeared okay earlier on but she's shocked and it could've got worse during the day."

Two of the three residents affected are staying with family while repairs are under way and the third is staying in a guest room at the court.

"It is such a shame for them as they have all just had their kitchens redone so have put up with a lot of work recently," she said.

"And now they have to deal with this."

The insurance company is expected to assess the damage to the building today.

It is not yet known how long it will take for the damage to be repaired.