A man has spoken of the surreal moment he awoke to find a lorry with a load full of pigs crashing into his house.

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

Michael Hawker, 36, was asleep in bed when he woke to the sound of a massive thud which shook the house, followed by the screaming of pigs.

Hr Hawker said: 'There was a heck of a crash into the house and then all I could hear was a load of pigs screaming. It was a surreal noise.

'Then all the bricks and everything started falling everywhere.'

Mr Hawker said the front corner of the lorry's trailer hit the 17th century former farm workers' cottage at the corner of Gilderswood and Tabernacle Lane in Forncett St Peter, where he has been living for just nine months with his wife, Miranda Harrison-Hawker, 32.

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. SHown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. SHown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

Mrs Harrison-Hawker, who was not at home at the time of the crash about 6am today (Tuesday, October 10), said: 'This must be the first time a pig lorry has run into the house in 300 years.'

Mr Hawker said they believed the lorry driver had been misdirected by his satnav down the narrow lane.

Mrs Harrison-Hawker said: 'Why else would an artic lorry go in that direction down this road, I don't know.'

He said he understood the vehicle was travelling from Beccles to Coventry.

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

MORE: Lorry transporting pigs crashes into south Norfolk houseMr Hawker said: 'He was able to drive off after the police had been.'

The crash sent dozens of bricks onto the road and smashed a hole in the wall of the house, sending plaster and rubble tumbling down the inside stairs.

The house's power cables were also knocked down, and a UK Power Networks crew has been on the scene today trying to get the electricity back on.

But Mr Hawker said it would take some time for all the damage to the house - which they are currently renovating - would be fixed.

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

He said: 'It's probably worse than it looks because there's internal cracking.

'But it could have been worse.'

A spokesman for Norfolk Constabulary confirmed no-one was injured and all pigs were unharmed.

Tabernacle Lane had to be closed due to the power works and the bricks spread across the carriageway, and it was unclear how long it would take to clear the road.

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: A lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart AndersonA lorry carrying a load of pigs crashed into a historic home in Forncett St Peter. Shown is damage inside the house. Picture: Stuart Anderson (Image: Archant)