A COUPLE who were holidaying in Hereford had an unfortunate start to their trip when their car broke down in Ludlow during a storm - but local mechanics came to the rescue.

During a storm last month, Darryl and Gillian Jones, aged 92 and 82, were going for a weekend break at Hereford's Warner Hotel when the car they were driving broke down. But their daughter said that they were taken care of by Ludlow Motors in their time of need.

Their daughter Sue Jones said: "My elderly parents would like to thank Luke Binnersley and his team at Ludlow Motors.

"On October 27 they were making their way from north Wales to Hereford for the weekend when they were forced to stop as the car they were driving broke down.

"The staff went out of their way to look after my parents who had to wait over two hours for breakdown assistance. It was a very stressful situation but thanks to these lovely people was made less so. They were given coffee, the use of the phone, charged my mum's mobile and a safe place to re-group.

"Thank you so so much to the team. My parents and indeed myself will forever be grateful."

Luke Binnersley of Ludlow Motors told the Ludlow Advertiser: "It was in the eye of a big storm. We believe the couple were travelling on holiday as their daughter said. They swung by the garage when their car started showing signs of trouble.

"Myself and Ella Simpson, in between other jobs, made sure that they had a drink and charged up their phones in our waiting area. We searched for the hotel they were staying at and got the number for them to contact and inform them. They waited with us until the tow truck and breakdown recovery arrived."

Heavy rain in October caused chaos across the UK, especially Storm Babet which had happened the week before the Jones' holiday.

Roads were closed and vehicles were submerged in floodwater in Ludlow, with warnings and alerts in place locally.