This afternoon we reported on a man accused of speeding but who blamed the incident on his dog!

It was the dog – not me!

That has often been the explanation that men have offered following the appearance of an offending aroma whilst watching TV or eating supper, but this was the explanation provided to police by a motorist caught behind the wheel of a speeding Volvo S60 in Chester-le-Street, Durham.

The man was tracked doing close on 100mph in a 30mph zone and in the process narrowly avoided a collision with an oncoming vehicle containing 2 adults and 2 children.

When eventually stopped by police, the driver asserted that this was all due to his over excitable Staffordshire Bull Terrier, BUSTER, who had been jumping around and, he claimed had become trapped under his foot resulting in his backside (the dog’s backside, that is) becoming trapped on the accelerator.

The judge at Durham Crown Court dismissed the man’s account as ludicrous and jailed him for 13 months for the potential risk and harm he might cause to other road users.

Following her look at coach travel in Essex, in days of yore, this week Margaret Mills turner her attention to the beginnings of the motor car industry in Essex.

Surprisingly today’s feature is not connected with FORD, but back in 1892, a man called Frederick Bremer who lived in Walthamstow, built a petrol driven car in a shed in his back garden.

His claim to have driven the vehicle on public roads around Walthamstow in 1894 is unsubstantiated bearing in mind that had he actually done so, he would have broken the law as it was only in 1896 that propelled vehicles were finally allowed on public roads.

After his death in 1941 the car he built was gifted to the Vestry House Museum in Walthamstow, where it can still be seen today.

If you missed what Margaret told me, you can listen again here: –

Hope to see you again next week,
Scott