AN 18th century cottage could be knocked down after a high-powered car left a notorious road on the outskirts of Knutsford and embedded itself into the owner’s living room.

The Audi RS4, valued at £55,000, was driving along the A50 in Over Peover towards Knutsford when it left the road at 9.39am on Monday.

A police spokesman told the Guardian that a dark blue Volkswagen appeared to be travelling on the wrong side of the road in the opposite direction.

According to officers, the Audi driver took evasive action, mounting the grass verge before travelling across the road, through the hedge and coming to a halt in the lounge of the ‘locally listed’ building.

The driver, believed to be a Radbroke Hall employee, was uninjured. 

Farmer Ian McGrath, of nearby Grange Farm, was first on the scene.

“We heard a noise the night before and my dogs had been going mad. We thought a car had gone through the hedge so I went to look the morning after and there was a hole in it,” explained Ian.

“I got there and just saw this car sticking out of the hedge and the driver was just stood there looking very pale and shaken.

“I thought it had happened the night before but it had happened literally a few minutes before.”

Fortunately homeowners Karen, 44, and Andy Rattray, 46, were out at the time of the crash.

“This is the third time we have had a car come through the hedge but this is by far the worst – we live in fear,” said Karen, who owns three cocker spaniels.

“Thank god we weren’t in. If we were we would have all been in the lounge and we had a great big unit in front of the window. That’s just obliterated and there are bricks embedded into the wall.

“The dogs were in but they are thankfully ok.”

Structural engineers attended the scene to assess the damage before the car could be removed.

Husband Andy said: “It is going to be six to 12 months before we can go back in – we don’t know yet if the house will have to be knocked down.

“The part the car went into is 550 to 600 years old – it’s just wattle and daub and we don’t know if the oak frame has been twisted.”

Karen added: “It’s just a waiting game.

“Everyone has been really supportive but it’s just the upheaval.

“We have to find somewhere to stay now and that’s hard with three dogs."

Police are hoping to trace the dark blue Volkswagen. Anyone with information should contact Eastern Operations Support Unit on 101 quoting incident number 204 of September 16, 2013.