Last week, police arrested a 17-year-old from Leyland on suspicion of drink driving and taking his parents' blue MG ZR car without permission before crashing it though a garden fence in Portsmouth Drive.

Anthony Atkinson, 45, now faces a £500 bill to fix his garden fence but says the incident could have been much worse.

He said: "I was just doing a bit of ironing when I head this loud bang outside. When I looked out of the window I couldn't believe it - this car had smashed right through the fence.

"Just a couple of minutes earlier there were a couple of little girls playing in the exact spot where it happened and I just can't help but think how bad it could have been."

In the weeks leading up to the incident more than 500 residents signed a petition for extra traffic calming in the area, which they say is blighted with speeding motorists.

Mr Atkinson said: "I've always said we need more traffic calming around here.

"There are a lot of young families and children playing out. Plus there is a school around the corner and the roads can be very congested making it hard for drivers to see.

"It's just a shame that it takes things like this for people to start listening."

Coun Terry Brown, who represents the area, is organising the petition to get a number of safety improvements made across Chorley East, including more speed humps along Portsmouth Drive.

The councillor also wants traffic calming introduced along Cowling Brow and the junction with Devonport Way and Eaves Lane.

He said: "More than 500 people have already signed our petition and we haven't even been to all the areas yet.

"The tremendous response underlines just how much people are calling out for improvements to be made on their roads in this area and we just hope the county council take our concerns on board when we submit the petition."

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council's highways department said: "There have been requests for speed humps in this area in the past but we currently have no plans to bring in any extra measures at this point.

"However, if anyone has any concerns we will look at the issue again once the petition is handed in."