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Gas leak alert as Land Rover hits house

By Gareth Bethell

AN ARMY Land Rover was forced to swerve into a house to avoid an oncoming car thought to be dodging a speed camera.

The woman soldier driving the 4x4 was not hurt but the homeowner and two children, aged six and three, had to be evacuated when the crash caused a gas leak.

The Land Rover, from the Bulford Garrison in Tidworth, was driving from Marlborough towards Swindon on the A345 when the accident happened at 10am yesterday.

A blue car, which police say may have been an old style Vauxhall Astra, was driving the other way and just before it reached Chiseldon Primary School it is thought to have crossed on to the wrong side of the road to avoid the speed camera.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the incident or the blue car in the area yesterday.

The house was left with a large crack through the brickwork of an extension, the front of which has been forced back several inches as a result of the impact.

The gas also had to be cut off because of the leaking pipes.

PC John Webb, of Swindon traffic police, said: "The Land Rover's path was impeded by a car on the opposite carriageway coming across in front of her.

"We understand the car was trying to avoid the speed camera.

"She braked and swerved to miss the oncoming vehicle.

"As a result she lost control of the Land Rover and managed to get it between the trees outside the house and it has collided with the front of the house.

"The extension has been forced back by 3in to 6in and there's a puncture to the gas pipe which is why the fire brigade attended.

"It just missed the main house and hit the extension.

"We got the children out of the house because of the smell of gas. Luckily enough nobody was hurt."

The resident declined to comment.

A spokesman for the 43 Wessex Brigade said the woman driving the vehicle was shaken but not hurt.

Anyone who saw the incident or who has any information should call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I think they mean the A346.
If so, here is a photo. (looking southbound)
And from that photo, I think here is the place on an aerial photo.
Eek.

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Andrew.

If it is that one its only just been replaced... it was down for ages.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.