I GOT a "new" car, a lovely car, then three days later I locked myself out of it.

The only key was in the ignition switch, the windows were open a bit so that my little dog had enough air.

My cousin came to help me and rang the city council so that I wasn't fined for staying too long.

We went in his car to get help but failed to find it.

When we got back to my car an attendant was standing beside it.

We explained our problem and he asked if we have piece of wire, which we hadn't. Then another car park attendant drove up in a van.

He had some wire and they tried, patiently and good-naturedly for quite a long time and eventually hooked the key out of the ignition switch. At last I could get in.

They were so pleased it could have been their car.

There were beaming smiles and genuine pleasure at having rescued my little dog and me from a real predicament.

It was getting late and I thought I might have to leave her there all night.

"It's all part of the service" we were told as they drove off.

Dorothy Coleman,

Grants Avenue,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.