A man's home in East Malling was left structurally unsound after he accidentally drove his car into the outside wall.

It is thought the elderly man - who has not been named by emergency services - had been trying to back out of his driveway in Upper Mill when he hit a car parked nearby.

According to firefighters he then shot forward and drove into his house, damaging brickwork.

The automatic car eventually had to be winched out of a nearby hedge.

Firefighters say the driver - who is thought to be disabled - was not seriously hurt and managed to walk himself to an awaiting ambulance with crutches.

Dave Morris was among firefighters called to the scene at 1.40pm on Friday afternoon.

"Basically he’d tried to back his car out and hit another car" he said.

"In frustration or panic he shot forward and then went into his own house."

"I would imagine he’s had to be rehoused; there was quite a lot of damage.

"The car door was in the hedge, so we had to winch it from off the bush."

On Saturday other residents in Upper Mill said builders had since been on site to "shore up" the damage - although cracks, loose bricks and a dent in the outside wall were still visible.

Inspector Simon Elgar of Kent Police said the man had received only minor injuries and had been given temporary accommodation.