A COUPLE are ‘lucky to be alive’ after the car they were driving flipped on its side after being hit by a horse.

Emergency services told the couple, who have asked not to be named, they only avoided being killed because of the size of the people carrier they were driving in the accident on Thursday afternoon.

They were heading towards their Penketh home on Thursday afternoon from Widnes.

When they came through Cuerdley on Warrington Road at around 4pm, police say a horse bolted from a neighbouring field. The horse was killed in the accident and the motorists are lucky to have only suffered cuts and bruises.

The male driver, aged 48, said: “The horse came straight across and there was no way we could see it, we were travelling about 40mph.

“The whole incident has been very shocking for us. The car ended up on its side, I don’t know whether it flipped or not but it could well have done.”

The couple saw their car leave the road and ended up in a verge.

“The most shocking thing to think about is that our children may have been without parents.

“All the witnesses said there was no way to see the horse, it just bolted straight out,” he added.

The pair say they are very grateful to all the motorists who stopped to help them following the accident and have thanked witnesses.

Police are asking any further witnesses to call 0845 458 0000.