A VILLAGER who saw suspected joyriders demolish the front of his 300-year-old cottage is calling for road safety measures on a country lane.

Paul Francis cheated death when a stolen Mitsubishi Galant smashed into his home, at the corner of Mill House Lane and Dam Lane, Croft, last Thursday.

He had just gone to bed when the car careered into his front room.

Mr Francis said: "I will be speaking to the council about doing something about this corner - this was an accident waiting to happen.

"If they don't do something about putting barriers up, this is going to happen again."

As reported in the Guardian Midweek, Paul, his wife Debbie and their 22-month-old son Dale must now move out of the cottage while repairs, which could take up to six months, are completed.

The collision caused a first-floor bedroom to collapse.

Police say that the car was stolen from Northwich. Three men, aged 21 and 22, were arrested and quizzed about the incident, before being bailed.

Howard Claxton, the council's road safety manager, said that 30 mph markings and signs had been recently installed along Millhouse Lane.