AN elderly couple had a rude awakening after a vehicle crashed into their historic cottage, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Peter Shenton, 72, who lives with his wife Chris, 70, in the listed detached property on the corner of West Street in Wimborne, said they were disturbed by a noise at around 3.30am yesterday morning.

He said: “Our bedroom is at the back of the house and we were woken up by a sudden rattle of our sash window. We assumed it was a sudden gust of wind at the time and went back to sleep.”

But in the morning when Mr Shenton went downstairs into the front room which overlooks the street, he was shocked to discover that half of the wall had been caved in and a radiator was hanging off its hinges.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “We had some of the brick work repaired only earlier this year and that cost £1,200, so the cost of repairing this will probably run to many thousands of pounds.”

The couple now face having to cancel a holiday to Australia next month to visit some sick relatives whilst major repair work is carried out.

Mr and Mrs Shenton have lived at Pye Cottage, which dates back to 1796, since it was refurbished in 1998.

“We have always enjoyed living here although there have been a few incidents over the years, but this is the most serious so far. We are lucky that the windows didn’t smash so we can stay warm and that nobody was injured.”

The cottage, which is situated opposite The Minster Arms pub, has now been cordoned off by police following a safety check.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police confirmed they were called at 7.30am yesterday following an incident which took place overnight. She said it was a road traffic collision involving one vehicle and a house in West Street.

Officers attended at 11.20am and stayed for around an hour.

They returned later in the day to check on the safety of the building. No one has been arrested.