A NEIGHBOUR has spoken of the horrific scene when a car smashed into a wall near his home.

Neil Hibbert said he had just gone to bed shortly before 1.30am today when there was a "phenomenal" noise.

A silver Ford Focus travelling along Skipton Road, Utley, towards Steeton, had left the road and struck the wall.

"I've never heard a noise like it," said Mr Hibbert, a chartered accountant.

"I'd been working late and was just about to go to sleep.

"Myself and other neighbours went outside to see what had happened.

"I rang 999 – I think quite a few people did – and the emergency services were there very quickly."

He said it was a scene of devastation.

"The car was crushed and there was debris everywhere," said Mr Hibbert. "It was awful.

"The top stones of the wall and the railings had been pushed back with the force of the impact."

Firefighters from Keighley and Bingley attended and freed the driver – the sole occupant of the vehicle – from the wreckage.

The 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident – which happened near Yew Bank Lodge – or anyone who saw what occurred just before the incident, to come forward.

No other vehicle was involved.

The road was closed for much of the morning.

Witnesses are asked to contact the Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support team on 101, or use the contact options on the West Yorkshire Police website. The log reference is 94 of 20 February.