A COUPLE were stunned when their car was written off as they sat watching TV.

Ann and Lee Dowling were relaxing in the front room of their home in Richmond Avenue, Shoebury, when their peace was shattered by an almighty crash.

They both rushed outside to investigate – and found the only casualty was their car.

Mrs Dowling, 51, said: “We feared someone must have been injured.

“But all we saw were red tail lights disappearing up the street.

“Our poor car had been hit with such force the rear off-side bumper was hanging off, the wheel arch was smashed, the wheel and tyre pushed out off alignment, the rear lights smashed and there was a huge scratch along the side.”

The 12-year-old black Ford Mondeo was a write-off, and the couple now face a bill of almost £900, after forking out for vehicle recovery and insurance excess.

Mrs Dowling, a civil servant, added: “We didn’t hear any screech of brakes.

“They just carried on.

“This is a terrible start to our new year because of this selfish individual.

“We can ill afford the extra expense and my husband is a self-employed builder and really relies on his car.

“We are right near a school, so I hate to think what would have happened if it had been on a week day.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police are investigating a fail to stop road traffic collision at 7.50pm on Saturday.

“House to house enquiries will be carried out and any local CCTV cameras will be checked.”

Call PC William Cheung on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you witnessed the crash.