Angels from NOWHERE

Three women express their gratitude for strangers who stepped in to become their saviours

- GILLIAN HARVEY

'There aren't enough thank yous'

Leanne Alston, 41, is a psychotherapist who lives in Bradford.

As the wheels spun uselessly in the thick mud, I began to get scared, as there was surely nobody around for miles. It was Christmas Eve 2012; I was heading home to Yorkshire after visiting my friend Leonie in Shropshire. I'm a careful driver but I hit black ice on a tiny back road and the car spun out of control, coming to a halt in a ditch.

At first, I felt relief: my car was fine and I was unhurt.

But this soon gave way to despair when I realised I was stuck. Despite a poor mobile signal, I managed to call Leonie. 'I'll try to send my dad,' she said, but explained that he was out and she wasn't sure when he'd return. Cold and shaken, I settled in for an uneasy wait.

After a time, a miniature van appeared out of the gloom and a postman got out. 'Can I help?' he asked. But it was no use - he tried pushing, I tried revving, but all we ended up with was a muddy postman and a ruined jumper. Eventually he gave up.

'Sorry love, I wish I could have helped,' he told me.

When he left, I felt lonelier than ever. And after my experience, worried that Leonie's dad might not be able to shift me, either. Just as I was giving up, bright lights appeared on the horizon. An enormous farm truck rounded the corner and a huge, bearded guy got out. I was a little nervous as I wound down my window, but he was lovely. 'The postman sent me. I'll soon get you out,' he said, attaching a tow rope and giving me instructions as relief washed over me.

After wrenching me from the ditch, he even followed me in case I slipped again, leaving only when I reached the main, gritted A-road.