REVEREND Julian Parker saw the funny side of a car ploughing through a hedge surrounding St Thomas Church in Southwick late on Saturday.

Police officers were called to the church in Frome Road at around 12.40am, after receiving a report of a vehicle ploughing through a lamp post and into the hedge, before coming to a rest yards away in the church yard.

Mr Parker, a vicar in Southwick, North Bradley and Heywood parish, said he was shocked when he arrived at the church on Sunday morning to find a large section of the hedge had been taken out.

However, while he was surprised by the incident, he believes it was something of a blessing in disguise, as the church has been considering getting rid of the hedge for more than two years.

Mr Parker said: “We were thinking of taking the hedge out anyway and we have been dithering about it for over two years now as we thought it would help open up the church a bit.

“We felt the hedge was hiding the church a bit and this happening is kind of like god sending us a sign and telling us to get a move on and get rid of it.

“Thankfully, no one was injured and the car didn’t go into the church, but it did rip out about a third of the hedge. We saw it the next day when we came to church and wondered what had happened.

“We will now have to look at taking the rest of the hedge out now or perhaps putting something else in its place. It was a bit of a shock for us when we saw it, though.”

No one was injured in the incident, which took place around 100 yards from another road traffic collision in Wynsome Street around the same time.

Church warden Roy Butt added: “We are not completely sure what happened, but remarkably there were two incidents around the same time and not that far from each other.

“It was lucky it didn’t damage the church and it was a bit of a surprise to all of us when we saw it Sunday morning. I think we will discuss taking away the hedge completely now.”

Police have confirmed that two men have been charged following the incidents in Frome Road and Wynsome Street on Saturday.

A 43-year-old Rode man was charged with driving after consuming excess alcohol and without insurance.

A 24-year-old Melksham man was also charged with driving after consuming excess alcohol, as well as driving without insurance or driving licence.