A BOY had a narrow escape from a runaway car just minutes before he was due to set off on holiday.

The VW motor the youngster was sitting in rolled away down the drive and ploughed into a wall before overturning.

The drama happened just minutes before the boy and his family set off on their summer holiday.

Neighbour Mrs Angela Hall heard the impact as the Y-registered VW Golf demolished part of the garden wall at her house in Fenay Bridge.

She said: "I was upstairs in the bedroom tidying up while my 12-year-old daughter Danielle and her friend, Lauren Hirst, were in the front room.

"I heard a big smash and heard Danielle screaming.

"The car came towards them and stopped about 10 inches away from my front door."

Mrs Hall ran outside and was joined by her neighbours who had also come rushing out after hearing the loud bang.

The car was on its side with a door bent back.

One neighbour propped up the car to stop it falling over and the boy, who is thought to be about 11 years old, was helped out.

He did not appear to be hurt.

Neighbours persuaded the family to continue with their holiday trip despite their ordeal and assured them they would sort out the damaged car and arrange to have it recovered.

A neighbour said: "There was nothing they could do here, so we told them to go."

Mrs Hall added: "I think the boy was strapped in the back of the car waiting to go away when someone slammed the car door.

"The handbrake must not have been left on and the car rolled away with the boy inside it."