‘Destruction’ as vehicle crashes into South Downs village garden for the seventh time

Phyllis Richardson, 54, said she heard two loud bangs around 9pm on August 3 before seeing a ‘horrific’ scene in her garden off Amberley Road in Storrington.

She said: “It was horrendous – the bang and the noise.

“The bike went one way through the garden fence. He went the other way.”

But this isn’t the first time Phyllis’ garden has been involved in a collision. She said it was the seventh time someone had crashed into her garden in the 35 years she has lived in the village.

Phyllis, who lives with her husband, two children and grandson, added: “It’s devastating. There’s debris everywhere.

“This is the most serious one we have had. It’s too close for comfort now.”

She said after spending months doing up her garden during lockdown the crash has wiped out a new fence and smashed lots of pot plants. During the crash soil was thrown through her window into the larder, coating food in there.

But now Phyllis is calling for extra safety measures on the road, which already has a 30mph speed limit.

She said she wants to see double white lines and other traffic calming measures put in place to prevent any future crashes.

Phyllis added: “Something has got to happen. It can’t carry on.

“I have got to try and do something to protect [my] family.”

Sussex Police said officers were called to the motorbike crash in Amberley Road, Pulburough at 9.20pm on Monday (3 August).

A spokeswoman added: “The driver sustained minor injuries and was left in the care of ambulance crew.”

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “We are sorry to hear about these incidents. Unfortunately, we do not know the causes, which would require crash investigation reports to determine.

“Applications for highway improvements can be considered through our Community Highway Scheme process.”