A family got a surprise visit from the boys in blue when a police car crashed through their garden wall in Pollards Hill at the weekend.

The occupants of the Lindsey Close home, a family with children, were left stunned when the police car tore through a concrete wall and wooden fence at about midday on Saturday in Donnelly Green.

A silver Volkswagen also ploughed into a tree just a few metres away.

The people in the car are believed to have fled the scene.

A Croydon police spokesman said the car that crashed through the wall belonged to their force, but refused to release any more information about the pursuit, or what had happened to the driver and passengers in the other car.

Specialist crash scene investigators are now examining the wrecked vehicles.

Neighbour Alex Worrell was alerted to the crash, which happened at about 12.15pm, when he heard the siren of the police car from his flat.

He rushed outside along with other residents to investigate what had happened.

He said: “A crowd had gathered to have a look and take pictures.”