HOMEOWNERS had a lucky escape yesterday after a huge refuse lorry ploughed into their drives.

The vehicle – owned by the Dorset Waste Partnership – was metres away from two properties in Marston Close, Blandford.

However, a brick wall separating the two homes brought the lorry to a halt before more significant damage could be done.

Teri Wareham, 45, was making lunch when she heard “an incredibly loud noise”.

“It sounded as if gravel was being delivered, but the sound went on and on and just got louder,” she said.

“I came out to have a look and that’s when I saw the lorry.”

The lorry driver was taken to hospital to be checked over following the collision.

Teri said: “If that wall hadn’t been standing there, it could have been a very different story.

“The only thing that matters to us is that no one has been hurt, and we all send the driver our best wishes.”

Sam Hawkins, 43, is a teaching assistant at a local school.

She was on a day trip with pupils when informed that there had been a ‘car crash’ directly outside of her house.

“I didn’t realise that this huge dust cart was involved,” she said.

“It was a bit of a shock to see how close it had become to the house. I’m very glad my children weren’t home when it happened – I think it could have been quite frightening.”

Teri’s husband Brian, 49, said: “If it had travelled another couple of feet it could have been interesting.

“The wall’s come down, but it stopped it from going into the house, so I think we’ve been very lucky here. Nobody was hurt, and that’s the main thing.”

A spokesperson from Dorset County Council said: “A Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) vehicle has been involved in an incident in Marston Close, Blandford.

“The vehicle has crashed over a wall. The driver has been taken to hospital as a precaution and the other occupants are shaken but uninjured.

“The vehicle is waiting for recovery, but waste collection will be unaffected since another vehicle has already been dispatched. The cause of the crash will be determined by an investigation.”