A young couple had a lucky escape on Monday evening when they walked away almost unscathed after their car ploughed through a 6ft garden wall.

The Comet: The crash took place in Datchworth near Stevenage yesterday. Picture: SuppliedThe crash took place in Datchworth near Stevenage yesterday. Picture: Supplied (Image: Archant)

The accident happened at the junction of Swangleys Lane and Baines Lane in Datchworth at around 5.30pm.

Police who were at the scene confirmed that amazingly both the driver and the passenger escaped from the white Volkswagen Golf with just minor injuries.

A resident contacted the Comet afterwards, warning drivers to take care when driving on the narrow lanes around Datchworth, Knebworth and Bragbury End – which they said can become difficult because of poor weather conditions and the dark evenings at this time of year.

She said: “It was the blessings of God that the couple in the car were able to walk away with very minor injuries, and I am so grateful that no-one was hurt. The couple were lovely. I think they realised just how lucky they were.

The Comet: A police pursuit resulted in a 40-year-old man being arrested for going equipped to steal after he was allegedly seen acting suspiciously around vehicles in Stevenage on Saturday. Picture: Casey GutteridgeA police pursuit resulted in a 40-year-old man being arrested for going equipped to steal after he was allegedly seen acting suspiciously around vehicles in Stevenage on Saturday. Picture: Casey Gutteridge (Image: Archant)

“The labyrinth of single-track roads in Hertfordshire have become so busy in recent years, with many of them being used as ‘rat runs’.

These roads are mainly unlit, full of pot holes and generally unsuitable for heavy traffic use. Monday’s accident occurred on a piece of road that is single track, with passing places.

“There is a series of zigzag bends, followed by a straight bit and then a blind ninety degree bend, this is were the accident happened.

“This bend originally was a T-junction with a STOP sign, up until the turn of the millennium, when, for what ever reason, Highways decided to make it a continuous road and removed the STOP sign. “Monday’s accident is a crude reminder of how dangerous roads like this one have become.

“I appreciate that the councils do not have the budgets anymore but there is a severe lack of maintenance of country roads like this one, which I believe, has to be a contributory factor to the recent accident.”