Long Stratton driver hits tree put out by migrants on Calais road

Richard Jones and Kirsten Knights' car damaged after they collided with a tree put across the road in Calais by migrants. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Kirsten Knights and Richard Jones were on their way back to Long Stratton from a break in Innsbruck, Austria, when they crashed into the tree and their car was surrounded by migrants.

They are warning others to avoid driving near Calais after dark.

The couple also face a repair bill of almost £4,000 for their new Ford Fiesta as their insurance only gave them third party coverage abroad.

They had their Ford on a lease scheme from Busseys in Norwich, but they didn't read the small print in their insurance policy booklet with Direct Line which said they weren't fully covered in Europe.

Richard Jones and Kirsten Knights' car damaged after they collided with a tree put across the road in Calais by migrants. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

They were booked on the Eurotunnel just after midnight on Saturday October 8th.

As they drove towards Calais at 10pm on the Friday they saw lights being waved at the side of the A16 motorway.

'I initially thought it was the police, but in front of me there was a tree across all three lanes,' said Ms Knights, 27.

Her partner Mr Jones, 47, said: 'I just hear her shout 'tree' and there it was. We hit it and went straight through.'

The car hit the top of the tree rather than the trunk.

'It was like driving into a bush,' said Ms Knights.

They got out to call the emergency services and inspect the damage when around 12 immigrants ran towards them.

They then locked themselves in the car while the migrants tried to open the doors.

The migrants ran off when police arrived and Ms Knights gave a statement and they took the next Eurotunnel to England.

Mr Jones, who works on the railway, said: 'We limped home to Norfolk slowly due to the car's condition.'