A 25-year-old man lost control of his powerful 4x4, rolling it on to its side before crashing through railing on to a play area where children were playing football.

Blackburn magistrates heard that an eye-witness and a police officer who investigated the incident both said it was a miracle nobody had been killed in the high speed crash.

And the officer revealed that the driver had been on his way to get the vehicle's brakes fixed.

Ibrahim Patel, of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and without insurance. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Prosecutor Catherine Allan said the witness had been waiting at the junction of London Road and Shear Brow when he saw a BMW M3 approaching at high speed. He estimated the vehicle was doing between 60 and 70 mph as it sped up Shear Brow. As the witness followed he saw the BMW narrowly miss a parked car before skidding onto the kerb and overturning on to its side. The vehicle then crashed through railings into Peace Haven Garden, where children were playing football.

She added: "He thought it a miracle none of them had been killed.

Police who attended found brake components on the back seat of the BMW and an inspection revealed the discs were rutted and rusty. The brake pads would not have been in full contact with the discs, seriously impairing the vehicle's braking ability.

Miss Allan said: "The defendant told the officers he had been on his way to have the components fitted. The offence is aggravated by the fact he knew the brakes were not working properly but was still prepared to drive at excessive speed."

Patel, who was not represented by a solicitor, said he was genuinely sorry. He said at the time he was in business as a motor trader.

He added: "I had financial difficulties and I needed to sell the car on. My intention was not to drive recklessly I just wanted to get to the garage."