A DISABLED shopper, who was left stranded when his motorised scooter broke down, has thanked the parking attendants who came to his rescue.

Geoff Easter, 68, was shopping in Durham City with his wife Eve, also 68, when his scooter broke down in North Road.

The couple could not find a taxi to take them and the scooter back to their home in Whinney Hill, but help was at hand from NCP attendants who manage the city's on-street parking for Durham County Council.

Manager Hugh Smyth spotted the couple, rang for a taxi and helped Mr Easter into the cab, then arranged for his scooter to be taken home by van.

Mr Easter said: "Within five or ten minutes of getting home they came with the scooter, which they needn't have done.

"It was brilliant of them and we don't know what we would have done otherwise."

"Ever since the parking attendants came to Durham, they have been excellent.

"Even if they are passing your house and they see you struggling in the garden, they stop to give you a hand. They are so pleasant and nice."

Mr Smyth said: "We are always pleased to help anyone who needs assistance and we were delighted to help them out."

Recently, Durham's parking attendants have also been praised by the public after lending a mobile phone to a driver who had broken down, spotting keys left in a car door and leaving a note for the owner, before taking them for safekeeping, and explaining the city's parking regulations to a disabled visitor.