RACING cars crashed into a garden wall before speeding off, it is claimed.

Pensioner Jacqueline Penfold, 69, has called for safety improvements after her wall was destroyed by what is believed to be speeding motorists driving recklessly.

Ms Penfold, of Church Lane, Ashingdon has called for speed cameras or bumps to force drivers to slow down.

She said: “On Saturday I was at home and at about 6.15pm I heard this bang and it sounded like someone set off a firework in our front garden.

“I went out and saw a car driving away and also that a pillar from our wall had been knocked down and there were also some parts from the car left behind.

“A neighbour said they thought it was a crash with two cars who were racing down the road.

“I am angry as the person just damaged the wall and drove off, leaving me with a bill to pay to fix the wall.”

It is the second time it has happened but last time the motorist remained and apologised.

“This has happened before in about 2008 and the women who did it knocked on our front door and told us what happened,” she added.

“This time it looked like there were parts of the window that have been left behind from where the driver hit my wall.

“I am worried about speeding in this road as people do drive fast along the road.

“We need something to be put in place to slow down drivers.

“We do not have pavements in the road, it is a bit like a country lane, and we have a lot of activity around this road.”

She wants to see the council take the issue seriously and said it needs urgent attention to keep everyone safe and stop someone being hurt next time.

Ms Penfold added: “There could have been someone killed when the car hit my garden wall and I am glad that someone wasn’t injured but as so many people do walk up and done the road it is a big concern.

“It seems as though there were two vehicles racing and that there was some kind of altercation and then one of the vehicles hit my wall and then just drove off.”

She said that it was bad to happen once but its much worse that it has not happened twice to her property.

She added: “Another concern of mine is that there is a blind bend in the road and it is dangerous due to the speeding, people race around the corner and can’t see either way.”

The crash was not reported to the police.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said the resident should contact the local Essex County Councillor who can, if in agreement, bring the proposal to the Rochford Local Highway Panel for their consideration and possible action.