A WOMAN has told of her shock after a lorry smashed into her home as a police chase came to a dramatic halt.

Lorraine White, 67, of Ashanti Close, Shoebury, was fast asleep when officers began following the vehicle in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The lorry had triggered an ANPR camera as it was heading down the Southend-bound carriageway of the A127.

When the pursuit reached Ashanti Close, the driver jumped out of the lorry while it was still moving and made off. The vehicle was left to career into Mrs White’s house.

Echo:

Mrs White, who has lived in her home for more than 40 years, said: “It was such a shock. It happened at about 2am or 3am.

“Me and my son were both woken up by a huge sound. It’s hard to describe it - just a really loud bang.

“We met on the landing and I came downstairs and said ‘gosh there’s a lorry in our garden.’

“My son went outside to see what had happened and someone told him they’d seen the driver running off.”

Neighbour Mitchell Perry, 16, witnessed the driver fleeing the scene.

He said: “It was about 3am. I saw blue lights flashing and then I heard this big crash. I looked out of the window and could see police cars. There was loads of police turning up.

“It was really loud. I heard a scraping sound then a ‘boom.’ As soon as the lorry crashed there were blue lights so they must have been chasing the lorry.

“I saw someone running away from the lorry and the police took someone away in their car.

“It’s scraped a bit of the roof and tiles off and knocked down a lamp post.”

Police officers took chase on foot. They arrested a 44-year-old man, from Westcliff, nearby.

Supt Simon Anslow, who was out on patrol on Monday night, shared an image of the lorry after the crash. He Tweeted: “Reacting to an ANPR hit, we’ve found a suspect vehicle loaded with stolen items.

“A short foot-chase and one in custody.”

The lorry has knocked bricks and tiles loose from Mrs White’s home.

Southend Council put a cordon in place outside the property to prevent any potential falling debris injuring pedestrians.

Mrs White added: “It’s pretty frustrating that this has happened. I don’t know if it’s done structural damage or not.

“My insurance people are sending someone out to look at it.

“An engineer from the council said we don’t need to leave immediately but I’ve been in touch with my sister in Leigh so we can stay with her if necessary.

“It has left me in a bit of shock and I barely slept after it happened. I’ve had a headache and felt sick all day.

Echo:

“It’s just the last thing you expect to happen. This isn’t a busy road.

“We do get more lorries through, as they continue developing Shoeburyness, but you certainly don’t expect to wake up and find a lorry in the side of you house.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers engaged in a pursuit of a red DAF lorry shortly after 2.30am yesterday following activation of an ANPR camera.

“The driver failed to stop while driving down the A127 towards central Southend and has exited the lorry while it was still moving.

“The lorry has continued moving and hit a property in Ashanti Close, Shoebury.

“A 44-year-old man from Westcliff has been arrested on suspicion of theft from a vehicle and remains in custody.

“Part of the road remained blocked while the lorry was safely removed.”