A GANG of teenagers smashed a car into the front of a house in a Jackass' style prank which was allegedly filmed on their mobile phones.

The handbrake on a Renault Clio was released by the youths who pushed the car down a hill before diving out of the way at the shocking moment of impact.

A neighbour captured the final moments before the car ploughed into the house on a video which is now being used by police as part of their investigations.

The home in Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen, now needs weeks of work to repair cracks and brickwork and other works are needed to make the structure safe.

Mum Justine Lowe, who has a son, Nathan, heard the car crashing into her house from a nearby neighbour's where she was spending the evening with friends.

Miss Lowe said she rushed outside to find the car had ploughed through her hedge and into her house shortly after midnight on Saturday.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the stunt where youths used a car parked on a hill in Wyre Crescent to roll down into Birch Hall Avenue.

Miss Lowe, who said the area is riddled with teenage nuisance, admitted she is scared to leave her house after dark and now said she is more frightened.

She added: "I couldn't believe it . I ran outside and a car was in my door. Youths hanging around and drinking has always been a problem here but this is unbelievable.

"They can't care who they are hurting.

"I'm just glad I wasn't stood outside my house or in my garden, I could have died. Or they could have killed a pedestrian walking by.

"They have no thought of the consequences.

"They were all filming on their mobiles when I came outside. Then they went.

"I just want people to come forward to help catch those responsible. They need to know this type of behaviour is dangerous and wrong."

The inside of Miss Lowe's house also has cracks up the wall, the radiator was left hanging off the wall and the front door and an internal door were pushed out of line by the force of the impact and would not close.

Neighbour Laura Cook said: "A similar thing happened to me about four years ago but there was no damage to my house. A car just came into the garden.

"Someone could have been killed, something must be done. What will it take before action is taken to protect innocent people?"

Sgt Mark Thackeray-Scott said: "What the youths have committed is a criminal offence.

"This incident could so easily have resulted in a fatality.

"We will be carrying out door-to-door inquires in the area to trace the mobile phone footage."

Anyone with information should contact Darwen police on 01254 701 777, all calls will be treated in confidence.