An Oxford woman looked on in horror as a car careered towards her and smashed her own car into her living room.

Jackie Hearn, of Edgecombe Road, Barton, was standing at the front of her home after hearing a commotion outside when she saw a car, which had already crashed into four vehicles, heading straight for her.

She said she froze with fear as the vehicle crashed into her Renault Scenic on the driveway, forcing it through the ground-floor window on Saturday night.

Mrs Hearn, who lives with husband Steve, daughter Abby, 16, and her disabled mother Dot Amos, 72, said: "I heard a screech in the road then a crash, crash, crash.

"I thought to myself 'thank God my car is on the driveway' and went outside to see what was going on."

Mrs Hearn said the man who was driving the car -- who has not been named by police -- then got out and ran off.

No-one was injured, despite the trail of damage, but Mrs Hearn said she was still in shock about what could have happened.

She said: "I think it gets worse as the days go on. It's a horrible thing.

"We were not doing anything and before we knew it everything has turned upside down."

The incident began outside the Barton Royal British Legion club, also in Edgecombe Road, at about 9.30pm.

Secretary Terry Cox said a member of the legion, who was barred from the club, came in looking for his wife.

The couple argued and the man went out, got into his car and drove off, hitting three vehicles in the car park.

He then smashed into a Citroen Saxo, which was parked on the pavement opposite the club, before veering into Mrs Hearn's car.

Mr Cox said: "At first I thought it was a joy rider. As soon as I realised what was happening, I started chasing after him and shouting.

"He wasn't going to listen to anybody -- he was driving like a maniac."

It took firefighters and the police several hours to remove the two vehicles and make the house safe.

The damaged window has been boarded up. The incident caused thousands of pounds of damage and has left five people waiting to hear if they are covered by insurance.

Mrs Hearn, who recently started her own business as a manicurist, said she had been forced to cancel appointments until she was given a courtesy car by her insurance company, because the police had taken away her car as evidence, leaving her without transport.

She said she did not know how much the damage to her family's house and the car would cost.

Tammy Rescorla, the owner of the Citroen Saxo which was parked in the road, said the car was a write-off. She added: "My car was smashed against the kerb. Both rear wheels are buckled and the back axle is broken.

"I had to take the day off work, because I can't get there without a car."

Oxford police spokesman Victoria Bartlett said: "We're investigating an incident on Saturday where five cars were damaged. Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made so far."

Anyone with information about the incident should call Oxford police on 08458 505505.