THIRTY residents were forced to flee their homes during the night after a car crash caused a severe gas leak.

A red Vauxhall Astra came off the road at Charlton Marshall around 12.45pm on Saturday morning, crashing into the front of a house on the corner of Park Hill and Bournemouth Road.

Homeowners, Mike and Rachel Plummer, said they and their 30 neighbours were told to leave their homes after the car ploughed into their front porch.

It was only as the Astra was being pulled out of the porch that the mains gas supply unit was knocked, causing the leak.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police were called to the scene.

"There was this huge roar of gas as it shot up into the air," Mrs Plummer said. "The two guys [in the Astra] were really shaken up. It was really loud."

Several residents were forced to stay the night in the village hall.

"We just had to get our shoes on and get out. The neighbours were so lovely. They gave us cups of tea and made up beds for the children", Mrs Plummer said.

Their children, Rebecca, 14, Izzy, 11, and seven-year-old Matthew, were taken in by neighbours who had been woken by the loud bang as the Astra careered into their home.

The family's Mercedes van was also badly damaged.

It is understood the gas supply to their neighbours' houses was turned on the following morning but Mr and Mrs Plummer's house won't have any heating or hot water until their porch is made structurally sound.

Mrs Plummer said: "They've turned off the gas and won't turn it back on until it's safe again. We've got no heating and we've got family coming as well [for Christmas]. We're meant to be going to Ireland but I don't know how we're going to do that now."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Damage was caused to the front porch and a stationary vehicle. A gas pipe was damaged as a result of the incident and a cordon put in place. The road was closed at the Roundhouse roundabout.

"In the interests of public safety 30 residents were evacuated from surrounding properties to the nearby village hall on Green Close while gas engineers and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service worked to make the area safe."

The area was confirmed to be safe at 5.30am and residents were able to return to their homes at 5.40am.

No one was injured in the incident.

A 28-year-old man from Blandford has been charged for driving offences. Simbarashe Nxele has been bailed and is due to appear at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on December 30, charged with drink driving.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 101, quoting incident number 12:24.