A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl was lucky not to suffer serious injury after she was thrown from her sofa when a stolen car ploughed into her living room.

Charlotte Jacob (CORRECT) was playing a video game on her sofa at about 7.20pm on Friday when a red Land Rover Freelander crashed into the semi-detached house on Ingoldsby Road, Netherfields, Middlesbrough.

The vehicle smashed through a window and into the room, shunting the sofa and pushing it through the room.

The youngster, who was thrown to the floor, was fortunate to escape without injuries but was treated for shock at the scene.

Two men were seen running from the scene after the crash and Cleveland Police say the vehicle involved had been reported as stolen.

Charlotte's mother Senzeni, 35 and older sister Charity, 16, were in the kitchen baking when the car careered into the living room.

Her father Trevor Jacob, 40, was working a night shift when Charity called him to tell him about the incident.

The family stayed at Mr Jacob’s brother’s house on Friday and since then their house insurance company has been putting them up at the Premier Inn in Middlesbrough.

Mrs Jacob said: “I just heard this really loud bang and rushed in and saw the front of this car in the living room.

“Charlotte was on the floor, on her knees. She didn’t even scream. She made no noise. I think was just in shock. Later I cuddled Charlotte and she had a little cry.”

Mr Jacob was allowed to leave work for a few hours and found four police cars, a fire engine and ambulance at his home which was only boarded up today, Sunday, February 17.

He explained a neighbour said the two men in the car had just walked away. He said: "Our house is the third from the end of the street, so I'd never expect anything like this to happen. I am just relieved that the children are okay."

The family, originally from Zimbabwe, have lived in Middlesbrough since 2007.

Charlotte said: "It was scary."

A 25-year-old Middlesbrough man was later arrested but police are still searching for another male in connection with the incident.

Anyone with any information is being urged to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency 101