ESSEX Police have confirmed the arrest of an 18-year-old man following the Christmas Day incident in Grays that saw a home partially destroyed after being hit by a car.

He has since been released on bail.

It appears a matter of pure luck that the incident happened without serious injury as people living in the house on Argent Street were in other rooms when the car crashed into the detached house just before 10am.

The incident was first reported on Thurrock Nub News yesterday.

The living room that was destroyed contained unwrapped Christmas presents for the children.

Damage is still being assessed at the house after firefighters, gas, electrical and structural engineers examined the wrecked home.

A statement from Essex Police says: "Officer were called to Argent Street, Grays, at 09.50am. No-one inside the house was hurt and the road was closed for several hours.

"A man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and no insurance. He has since been released on bail while enquiries continue." 

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Former borough mayor Tunde Ojetola lives nearby and says he heard the incident happen and like other neighbours rushed to offer aid.

"It was awful. I heard the car go by, it was travelling very fast then there was the noise of the impact," he said.

"Lots of people came out to help and the driver of the car, who appeared to be trying to run away was restrained.

"I think he was taken by ambulance to hospital.

"It really was amazing that no-one was seriously injured."

The family who lived at the house are reported to be staying somewhere else after the incident.

A neighbour, told the BBC she gave the family who lived in the house refuge in the aftermath.

"She was shocked because her brother could have been in that room and the children couldn't go and pick some presents from the living room," she said. 

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"It was terrible, of course, she was shocked - she couldn't speak too much."