Village ambulance car vandalised in wrecking spree is back on the road after anonymous donations
AN ambulance first responder car vandalised during a vehicle wrecking spree in Bransgore is back on the road after anonymous donors chipped in.
Bransgore Community First Responders (CFR) were delighted to have the Dacia Duster returned last Thursday evening after South Central Ambulance Service’s (SCAS) Nursling workshop fitted the repair into its busy schedule.
The volunteer group had feared it would be off the roads for at least a week after a wing mirror was smashed off.
It has now praised support from the local community, including the two donations.
As reported in the A&T, the car was attacked on the morning of Sunday 15th November outside on-call volunteer driver Rex Messingham’s home in Elmers Way. Several other vehicles were also targeted that night.
The CFR had slammed the “disgusting” and “disrespectful” vandals, warning lives could be lost as a result with the car unable to respond to medical emergencies.
Group coordinator Mike Jukes told the A&T: “We’re very grateful for the donations to the charity which will go towards offsetting the cost of the repair.
“There was also the interest from the community in Bransgore and all the messages of support, which just goes to show that the community really does care.”
Named Ann, in memory of long-serving Bransgore parish councillor Ann Hickman who died in 2014, the car was among 14 new responder vehicles rolled out by SCAS across Hampshire about three months ago.
Community response operations manager Jack Ansell said: “We’re still working with the police to ascertain who was responsible for the vandalism, but we’re very grateful for the prompt service from the ambulance service repair shop who understand the importance of getting the vehicle back on the roads as soon as possible.”
Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bransgorecfr
Those with information about the vandalism spree on 15th November should contact Hampshire police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44200442536, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
