A shocked resident said he thought there had been a huge gas explosion before discovering a car lodged in the side of his house.

Mike Basnett was preparing dinner with his wife at their home on Conniston Close, Marlow, on Friday when they heard a "very loud bang".

The startled couple then discovered a neighbour’s car - with the engine running and nobody inside - had taken a chunk out of the wall.

And the stricken Toyota remained in Mr and Mrs Basnett’s wall over the weekend while the damage was assessed, before finally being freed on Monday night.

Mr Basnett, 68, said: "My first reaction was that there had been a gas explosion. I went to look for the cause, and found a car smashed into the front of the house.

"The engine was still running, but there was nobody inside and the doors were locked. It was a cold night.

"A neighbour at the top of the road had started his car and left the engine running while he went back into his house. The car had rolled from his drive, across a road and then down our cul de sac before hitting our house.

"Luckily nobody was hurt, but significant damage was caused to our house both externally and internally which is going to take quite a while to fix."

The car struck the wall by the couple’s study, dislodging bricks and causing damage to mortar along the wall.

Mr Basnett said they do not yet know much the damage will cost, and are in talks with both parties’ insurance companies.

The retired RAF veteran, who now drives as a volunteer for Marlow Age Concern, said he was forced to take apart his study so the full extent of the damage can be analysed.

And he has sounded a warning to other residents of what can happen if cars are left unattended outside for any length of time.

He said: "We had to clear out the rather full study, including ripping out units so the internal walls could be inspected for damage. What a job!

"Now that it has been shored up, a more thorough inspection can be carried out to assess the extent of the damage."

"I hope our experience will be a reminder to people about the potential dangers of leaving cars parked on slopes, and especially left unattended with the engine running"