Ref. 75996-18RESIDENTS on Drakes Way were in shock after three parked cars were smashed into outside their homes.

All three cars were write-offs after the crash.

One of the cars was shunted across a grass verge on to the pavement.

The residents, who say there are frequently accidents along the road, believe the crash could have been fatal if anybody had been outside their homes at the time.

Lorraine Donaldson and her children Naomi, 23, and Luke, 14, were finishing their dinner when they heard a noise outside.

"Living around here you get to know the noises from the road," said Ms Donaldson, 41.

"But we thought no, that's not right.

"We ran out the house and I could not believe what I saw."

A car travelling along Drakes Way had hit a parked Honda, then Ms Donaldson's BMW, pushing it across the verge on to the pavement, then an Astra.

"It had buckled the whole car and you have got to think about the amount of solid metal there is in a BMW," Ms Donaldson said.

"If I had been getting shopping out the car with the kids we wouldn't be here today."

Ms Donaldson, receptionist and clerical assistant at Churchfields School, said that all three cars were write-offs.

Frank Symons was also in his house when the crash happened at about 8pm on Tuesday night.

"I heard a noise but we hear so many bumps and bangs you don't go rushing out every time," he said.

"We normally wait for the sirens first.

"My neighbour came around and said you had better come and have a look at this.

"I could see Lorraine's car up against my front gate. It had come over the grass verge and the footpath.

"My Astra had been shoved further down the road and another car had been hit as well.

"Luckily no-one was walking along there at the time."

Mr Symons, 58, said that accidents were common along the road, which is in a 40mph zone, and that the police needed to do more to crack down on speeding.

"I would like to see speed camera there," he said. "But it would be the same as anywhere else people would travel 50 or 60mph then just slow down for the cameras and speed up again once they are past them.

"Personally I would like to see hidden speed cameras and for them to be moved regularly."

Ms Donaldson agreed that action was needed on the road. She would like to see the road signs that flash up the speed limit if you approach travelling too fast.

The driver of the car stopped after the accidents and police came to the scene. Police confirmed the driver was not arrested.

No-one from Swindon police was available to comment on the incident.

Isabel Field