NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after two cars, which are believed to have been racing, crashed into their homes.

The incident happened at the junction of St Helens Road and Plodder Lane, Bolton, at about 11.30pm on Friday.

Three homes were damaged when the cars lost control and crashed into two front gardens in St Helens Road.

One resident says she would have been killed if it had happened three minutes earlier when she was putting out milk bottles.

A red Volkswagen Golf came to a halt in a garden, damaging the ground and breaking the garden wall.

Further along the road, a silver/grey Audi A4 crashed into the bay window of the home shared by Claire Malone and her 82-year-old mother Veronica Malone, causing damage to the front room, her car and the front door.

Miss Malone, aged 39, said: “I’m shocked, upset and, to be honest, absolutely fuming.

“This has happened at least three times before.

“My mum can’t sit in the front room as there’s glass and damage from the crash. Our front door has been hit too. If I had put the milk bottles out three minutes later than I did, I would be dead now.

“I’ve lived here for 35 years and never wanted to move but now I’m considering selling up, which is upsetting because this is my childhood home.”

Next door did not escape the effects of the crash as their garden wall was wrecked and the force of the collision caused debris to fly up and smash into the front wall and door.

Neighbour Jordan Broxson, aged 32, had just gone to bed when the Audi crashed into the gardens.

He said: “I just heard this big screech, like a car losing control, and then a big bang.

“I knew what was happening before I even got to the window. When I looked I saw lots of people running.

“Usually I stay up a little later and go to check the door is locked before bed. Luckily I didn’t as the door was knocked in by the crash and there were bricks thrown into the living room.

“This is the third time something like this has happened, it’s just ridiculous. We are just lucky no one has been hurt.”

A fire crew from Bolton Central assessed the damage to the house and made the area safe.

Police say that the cars were seen “racing” at speed along Plodder Lane moments earlier.

The all-male drivers and passengers of the vehicles made off in different directions across nearby fields after the crash, however some of the men showed signs of injury.

Inspector Mike Reid said: "It is so lucky that none of the occupants of the houses were injured in this shocking and reckless incident.

"We believe the cars were racing each other, down a road that people live on, where children play and where people walk their dogs at night.

"They have destroyed these poor people’s homes, I’m only thankful that nobody was killed.

"I am determined to bring these men to justice.

"Can you imagine sitting on your sofa watching TV when a car comes through the window? It would be terrifying. All because people think it is a good idea to race their cars."

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0161 856 5502, 101 or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.