Unusual breakdown calls revealed

A nudist who required replacement keys and clothes after a weekend away, and a motorist who asked for a spider to be removed from their dashboard have been listed among the most unusual calls dealt with by a breakdown service in 2009.

The male driver had his keys and clothes stolen while at a nudist camp and called Britannia Rescue to provide him with replacements, while a woman called upon the breakdown service to remove a spider from her dashboard.

One driver asked the breakdown team to help her get into her car, as her keys were no longer working. After asking the customer to confirm that it was her car, the team began to drill the locks, but were startled when a neighbour asked why they were working on his car. The woman had forgotten that she had parked four cars down the street.

A survey has found that 70 per cent of drivers could not perform the basic tasks needed to maintain their vehicle, with as many as 42 per cent unable to change a tyre.

Of the 2,078 drivers questioned, 17 per cent did not know how to check their tyre tread and 5 per cent would struggle to open their car bonnet in an emergency.