AS WE were travelling through Penrith on Monday, October 1, at about noon, our car had a serious breakdown near Gillan Way.

John injured his hand. We needed assistance from the fire and ambulance services and from the staff at Penrith hospital.

As well as carrying out their work to the highest professional standards, all these people showed us kindness and respect.

Also, a young man in a van stopped by the roadside to offer his help. A man and a lady came out of Wetherbys Hamilton office. They took care of John until the ambulance arrived and made me a cup of tea.

They also invited me into their office to wait for the recovery vehicle.

John wasn't carrying a mobile phone and a lady from the hospital reception helped John find a taxi and 'phoned me to say he was returning to the car in a taxi.

We are not familiar with Penrith, John didn't know where we had broken down, and the taxi driver, from Penrith Taxis, followed some very vague instructions to bring John back to the car.

We don't know the names of any of these people, but would like to thank them all for helping us in a difficult situation.

Jackie and John Ward

Sedgwick