THE community rallied around an elderly couple who were woken by what sounded like “a bomb going off” after a car ploughed through their garden during a police chase.

Gloria and Clifford Gibbs said they were ‘horrified’ to find the garden they had tended to for 40 years completely destroyed after a BMW careered off the road during a police chase.

The pair awoke late on Friday night to find the path from the front door to the pavement had been completely blocked by debris after the driver careered off the road and into the wall in Whitehawk Road.

The couple in Whitehawk Road was left feeling ‘vulnerable’ after the crash had disconnected the telephone line and debris left them barricaded inside.

A man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop in connection with the incident on Friday.

He was released under investigation while police enquiries continue.

The Argus: A next door neighbours wall was also demolished in the crashA next door neighbours wall was also demolished in the crash

Seventy-nine-year old Gloria Gibbs said: “It shook the house and when we came down, all we could see was a mass of blue lights.

“We were horrified.

“I am disabled and I can’t go anywhere so my garden is my little haven. Forty years of growth gone.

“It was wonderful having the community support. We were so upset and all of a sudden there was a knock at the door and there was a guy and his daughter.

“They saw the incident on the internet and came to clear a path for me.”

Husband Clifford Gibbs said:“We never actually saw the crash, we just heard it. We rushed downstairs and were amazed the police were there so quick.

The Argus: Residents helped clean up the debris from the crashResidents helped clean up the debris from the crash

“We sort of guessed there had been a chase. It was a hell of a mess.

“We had a lovely little garden there and it is gone.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We arrested a man for driving offences following a single vehicle collision in Brighton.

“Officers were alerted to the car, a BMW, in Whitehawk Way at about 11.10pm on Friday.

“Police pursued the vehicle onto Marine Parade, Roedean Road and then Whitehawk Road before the BMW collided with a garden wall.

“The driver, a 32-year-old man from Brighton, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop.”

Residents living nearby described hearing the sound of a “speeding car” followed by a “huge crash”.