Van smashes through front of bungalow taking out wall and window

The VW crashed into the wall and window of the home leaving piles of rubble and bricks strewn across the floor.

Police and the fire brigade are at the scene.

At one point fire crews could be seen holding up a large window which had been rammed into the bungalow.

A witness said: "There is severe damage to the windows and surrounding brickwork.

"But it's an excellent advert for VW as the van is hardly damaged at all.

"The fire brigade is currently removing damaged windows and brickwork."

The incident happened in Chiltington Way, Saltdean, this morning.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "A van has gone through into the front of a bungalow and taken out the front wall and window.

"No-one was injured.

"It looks as though the handbrake may have been loose as the van did not have a driver inside when it happened.

"It was first reported to us at 8.43am."

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s (ESFRS) Technical Rescue Unit was also called in after fears that the building could be unstable.

Technical Rescue Units are specialised teams within fire services which deal with specific incidents including confined space incidents, people trapped in machinery, aircraft incidents and structural building collapses.

A spokesman for the service said: “We were called at 8.47am to an incident in Chiltington Way, Saltdean.

“A van had gone into the front of a bungalow.

“We had firefighters from Roedean on the scene.

“Our Technical Rescue Unit was called as well because of possible structural instability.

“There was some damage to the corner of the bungalow.

“A building control officer was also called in.

“The building has been propped up by temporary supports.

“It was made structurally sound and our crews left the scene at 10.36am.”