A WOMAN in her 80s has been left feeling "grateful" when kind-hearted strangers stopped to help her and her husband whose car had broken down on the way to Andover.

Earlier this year on Saturday, May 27, Magaret Birch was travelling to Andover with her husband when the pair's car broke down on Admirals Way, leaving them stranded for more than ten hours.

She told the Advertiser that within just two hours of the incident, the pair were "surrounded by around 15 of the nicest, kindest and genuine people" they have met in a long time. 

To the couple's surprise, the kind strangers brought food, drinks and blankets. They said a man who was painting the fence was the first to come and offer them water.

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Magaret said: "A child even brought a wheelchair so that my husband could sit down., Others were on their phones ringing the RAC – one even rang the AA. One man rang the police who came and realised that they couldn’t leave us and brought us home to Newbury.

"One couple even rang us the next day to ask us if we needed anything and they would get it for us – a round trip of 40 miles. We were very lucky we met such lovely people who went out of their way to help us because, without their help, we could have died, other people might not have been so lucky."

Magaret is hoping by telling her story she can thank some of the strangers who helped them that day.

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She continued: "I have thanked them but thanking is just not enough. They came out with coffee and it almost turned out to be a party, to be honest with people even coming out with pizzas. 

"It was just unbelievable and when the police arrived we did turn around and say thank you to everyone but we did not feel it was enough. People stood out with us for literally hours."

An RAC spokesperson said: “We’re extremely sorry we let Mr Birch down on this occasion. We’ve apologised personally to him and are sending him an appropriate gesture of goodwill.

"His experience was in no way representative of the service we provide to thousands of our members every day.”

The pair said they would love to say a 'massive thank you' to all those who helped them.