A TRAGEDY was narrowly avoided when an 88-year-old woman's car careered out of control and hurtled through a fence, smashing into a popular children's play area during the Easter holidays.

Luckily there were no children playing at the site in Whiteshill when the silver Honda Jazz hit a roundabout and two sets of swings at 10.30am on Wednesday.

Police believe the driver had put the automatic vehicle into drive instead of park mode by mistake. Her elderly husband was also in the car, but neither were injured.

The accident happened just hours before the playground in Lower Street was due to undergo an annual safety inspection and the damage will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe parish councillor Peter Hood said residents are relieved that no-one was hurt.

"Everybody is so happy that there were no children there," he said.

"I have seen that place absolutely packed with children. Had it been an hour later it could have been terrible. We are just so thankful.

"We are contacting some contractors to come and sort it out. I shudder to think what the cost will be."

Ron Poiis, 81, who volunteers in the village shop overlooking the play area, described the incident as a 'freak accident'.

"The car went down in a semi-circle and down the bank," he said.

"It's very lucky that no-one was there. It's very well used.

"The car did quite a bit of damage to the swings."

Mum-of-two Alison Dhonau, from Selsley, was shocked when she saw the missing swings, which have now been removed, and the damaged fence.

"I am not from Whiteshill but we do come up here from time to time," said Mrs Dhonau, 41, whose children Laurence, six, and Miranda, three, use the facility.

"We like it because you've got the shop and the loos nearby and it's a nice view.

"It's a shame because it's a nice playground but hopefully they'll put it all back."

Matt Ford, spokesman for Gloucestershire police, said no action would taken against the driver.

"It just looks like it was a mistake and fortunately nobody was hurt," he said.

The cost of repairing the playground is expected to be covered by insurance premiums.