A PENSIONER is preparing to spend Christmas away from home after a car crashed into the front room of her bungalow.

Earlier this month, 67-year-old Marion Cushnahan was asleep in her home in Fairmount Avenue in Breightmet at about 6am when a Vauxhall Astra skidded on the icy road and smashed into her living room.

Her Bolton at Home property was significantly damaged in the incident, meaning that it is not safe for her to live there, and she has recently moved into temporary sheltered accommodation.

Her son Billy Kerr, aged 49, said that the prospect of spending Christmas away from her home has taken its toll on his mother.

He said: "I believe Bolton at Home have started work to secure the house but I'm pretty sure she won't be able to move back in for a few months, it is certainly not ideal and no one wants to be away from their home at Christmas.

"Luckily the family all live close-by and she has a lot of support here so that is helping her. She has good days and bad days, the whole thing still upsets her quite a bit."

The smash left a gaping hole in the side of the bungalow and caused significant structural damage.

The 22-year-old driver, who skidded across a grass verge after coming off the icy road, was not injured in the incident.

Mr Kerr said the family will be choosing to reflect over the festive period on how fortunate it was that Mrs Cushnahan, who normally gets up early and sits in the living room, chose to sleep in on December 10 and thus avoid being in the front room as the car ploughed into it.

He said: "That is the main thing, yes it has been a bad 2014 but we are just so glad that she wasn't hurt and that she is safe where we can look after her."

"At the end of the day it is just bricks and mortar and we will get it sorted for her in the New year."