Rita grateful for ‘lift’ after car gets in a jam

A GRATEFUL motorist has given thanks to a group of good Samaritans who came to her rescue and literally lifted her out of a tight spot.

Rita Cons (59) and her partner Les Burton (59) were left high and dry after their car became impaled on a metal bollard in Lincoln Road, New England, Peterborough.

Rita had not seen the low lying bollard when she tried to turn her car around in a garage forecourt.

As the vehicle caught on the bollard it made a terrible sound but it was enough to alert two men living nearby to the couple’s plight.

Mrs Cons, of Pinewood Avenue, Whittlesey, said: “They came rushing over to try and help out.

“They found a jack which they used to try and lift us off the bollard, but that did not work, and then they tried with some large pieces of wood and bricks to lift the car up, but that didn’t work either.

“So then they got out a mobile phone and called their friends to help.”

Mrs Cons added: “Suddenly a car full of burly men came along, they all got out and then together just lifted the car free of the bollard.

“They were able to get the car moving again.

“We were so delighted and relieved.”

Now Mrs Cons wants to thank the group for their help in releasing the couple.

She said: “We were driving down Lincoln Road at about 6.45pm on Saturday, when we realised we had taken a wrong turning and we tried to turn round in the garage forecourt.

“After they had helped us, I offered them some money to say thank you for their help, but they said they could not accept it, as they were just helping out and it was part of their Lithuanian culture.

“It was a lovely gesture, and we have been so humbled by their generosity.”

North ward councillor Keith Sharp, who represents the New England area, said he was delighted to hear about the help the group of strangers had given to the couple.

He said: “It is an important part of most Eastern European cultures to help people out when they get into difficulties, and most people from that community will happily do something like this for no reward.”

humbled: Rita Cons, who wants to thank a group of good Samaritans for helping her and her partner free their car after it became trapped on bollards.