A farmer has warned someone will be killed if drivers who keep crashing into his fields are not more careful.

Stan Painter, 63, estimates the Peugeot 106 that ended up on his land at Glenmore, near the Ham, Westbury, at the weekend was about the 50th car to crash through his hedges in the 34 years he has lived there.

He said: "There are always animals in the field and if they get out into the road in the dark someone could easily get killed."

Mr Painter runs a horse livery business on the 26-acre farm, and has about 22 horses on the site.

The fields are next to a 50mph limit narrow road with sharp bends and banks on either side.

"I think a lot of people exceed the speed limit around here. It is frightening how fast they come around there," he said.

Each time a car ploughs through the hedge, Mr Painter is left with the bill to fix it, which can cost up to £1,000. At the moment he has four separate insurance claims being dealt with.

He also has to clean up in the aftermath of accidents to ensure the horses are safe.

"I have been doing this for 16 or 17 years and it would be a shame if I was forced to give it up."

Mr Painter said the problem is happening so regularly he fears customers will start taking their business away.

He has already installed an electric fence around the inside of the field so the animals will be kept in even if cars smash holes in the hedges.

l In the latest accident, on Sunday, the passenger of the Peugeot 106 was airlifted to hospital, while the driver was arrested and charged with drink driving. He is due to appear before magistrates in Chippenham on May 12.