FAMILIES were left in shock after a rogue driver crashed into a parked car and fled the scene.

Salisbury Avenue residents in Westcliff were woken by the smash after a stolen Peugeot careered into a Vauxhall Corsa parked near St Paul’s Court.

Both cars are complete write offs.

The Corsa belonged to the partner of a resident of the court, which is situated next to Milton Hall Primary School.

The 46-year-old man said: “We were asleep and were woken up by a loud bang in the street.

“I looked outside but couldn’t see anything, but then my neighbour came knocking on my door saying my girlfriend’s car had been hit.

“The driver must have been speeding around that corner, there was no tyre marks on the pavement, he must have gone straight over it.

“The car is a write off, and he damaged a lot of the fence as well. My landlord said this is the third time it’s happened in the last few years as it got hit twice within three weeks at the end of 2015 and start of 2016. He had gone before the police turned up, but he managed to lock the car before he did.”

He added: “The council need to put more restrictions or speed bumps in place to stop drivers like this. We get loads all the time tearing around that corner. Someone is going to get killed sooner or later, and it’s right next to a school.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called shortly before 1.15am on Sunday with reports a Peugeot 206 had collided with a parked Vauxhall Corsa. The driver left the scene. The Peugeot was reported to have been stolen from Westcliff.”

The police could not confirm if the car had been left locked. A Southend Council spokesperson said: “This issue has been brought to our attention and as it is a safety matter, we will consider it at the next traffic regulations working party meeting, once we have received the outcome of the police investigation.”

Call police on 101.