Herbert Whybra (81), was backing his Vauxhall Zafira down his driveway in Westerly Way but did not stop, continued across the road, mounting the pavement and crashing into the front of the bungalow opposite at about 4pm on Tuesday.

Mr Whybra was not sure how the accident happened and said: "I was all right first of all but I was a bit shaken just after it happened. I have just come out of my garage, driven down the driveway and then gone across."

Ever courteous, Mr Whybra provided refreshments for the emergency services which arrived on the scene to survey the damage.

A bay window was smashed and slightly caved in, while there were large cracks and gaps in the brickwork of the front fascia.

Fortunately, the occupants of the house were not injured.

While police officers spoke to Mr Whybra and witnesses to the crash, firefighters made sure nobody was put in any further danger until the structure was inspected.

Simon York, station manager at Spalding Fire Station, said: "The building was left in an unstable condition so fire and rescue were here to make sure there was no danger to the public until the arrival of building inspectors."

The inspectors from South Holland District Council did arrive shortly afterwards and had to decide whether removing the car would have any structural implications on the bungalow.

Mr Whybra said he was not sure whether a fault with his car, which is an automatic, had anything to do with the crash but Lincolnshire Police said it would not be mechanically examined and that it would go to the insurance companies after it was safely recovered.