My wife and I are pensioners and our car broke down on the A27 near Worthing on Boxing Day, near the brow of a hill - a most dangerous place.

My wife quickly began to feel the effects of the severe cold and we felt there was no alternative but to ring 999 for the great hazard we presented to heavy holiday traffic.

Sussex Police control were most sympathetic and realising the breakdown was at a blackspot actually sent two cars.

One officer placed my wife in his warm police car, while the other helped to get me into a safe side road and waited with us until our son arrived.

We cannot thank Sussex Police enough both for their compassion and great efficiency.

-Alan and Daphne Gordon, Fordingbridge, Hants