A grandmother has spoken of the shocking moment a car smashed into her home while her grandchildren played upstairs.
Pauline Nielsen said she thought she was hallucinating when she came into her hallway at around 4.30pm on Sunday and noticed a VW Golf had crashed into her Elswick home.
The 71-year-old was sitting just metres away in her dining room and her grandchildren, aged eight and 13, were staying with her when the vehicle veered into her home on Mill Lane and caused extensive damage to the property.
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Pauline said: "I heard a big crash but I didn't realise what had happened until I saw the car. I couldn't believe it, I thought I was hallucinating.
"We thought someone must have taken ill at the wheel but when we went out to check there was two people running away, they were running in opposite directions."
She added: "All of a sudden there was a really strong smell of gas and that's when I realised they'd hit and smashed through the gas meter. The emergency services on the phone said we had to get out of the house quick."
It is understood the vehicle collided with an Audi before crashing into Pauline's home, where she has lived for 48 years.
Pauline's porch was destroyed in the crash and the wreckage remained lying in the street on Monday, with the area around the front of her home cordoned off.
Northern Gas Network engineers have been working in the area on Monday.
Both Pauline and her grandchildren are safe and sustained no injuries and despite being offered a hotel while repairs are carried out, she decided to return to her home on the same day.
Pauline added: "People in the community and the emergency services have been great.
"When I had to leave the house I was worried because I'd left my keys and I've always kept a [keyring] token to my husband on them since he died when he was 39.
"I thought I was going to lose it but the policeman asked what was wrong and he went in the house and got them back for me."
An investigation is now under way and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Shortly before 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday), we received a report of a collision on Mill Lane, Newcastle.
"It was reported that a VW Golf had collided with an Audi before crashing into a house causing damage to the property.
"The driver and passenger of the Golf then fled the scene prior to police arrival.
"An investigation is ongoing to locate those responsible and anyone with information is asked to contact us via our ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website using reference number NP-20220306-0753."
