A SOUTH Ockendon PCSO came to the aid of a woman and child who were stranded on the bend of a busy road on the hottest day of the year.

PCSO Jones noticed a distressed woman and child who had broken down in Chafford Hundred just after 12PM on Wednesday 15, April.

“I spotted the woman on the side of the road and pulled over. She was asking for help as she didn’t know what to do and had run out of diesel. After failing to start the car, I offered to give them a lift to the nearest petrol station”.

The officer ran her to the garage, collected a can of diesel and returned to the car.

“I topped up the vehicle but it still wouldn’t start.” said PCSO Jones, “It must’ve been 24 degrees by this stage and the child was starting to get upset because of the hot weather. The woman called her breakdown service but was told that it was going to be a long wait for recovery.”

After checking the vehicle manual, the officer realised that the engine needed priming with a pump in the engine compartment.

“It took a while but I was able to locate the pump and get the vehicle up and running. The woman was really relieved to be able to make her way home. I acted as any other police officer would, seeing the need to help a young mother and her child safely on their way.”