A pensioner who crashed his car into a house has questioned a recommendation to raise the driving licence renewal age from 70 to 80.

Kenneth Leach, 83, drove his car into the front of a house belonging to Les Littler in Trinity Road, Halstead, when he mistook the accelerator for the brake pedal and was later disqualified from driving for 12 months. 

An independent review has recommended the Department of Transport raise the age drivers must renew their driving licences from 70 to 80.

Mr Leach “misses his car terribly” but said that raising the age would be a “very bad idea.”

He said: "I’m not saying that people over 70 or even 80 are bad drivers but there is more chance of them being involved in an accident.”

A Department of Transport spokesman said that any decisions would undergo extensive consultation but there were currently no plans to change the age limit.