Narrow escape for our delivery man

A NORTH Devon Gazette newspaper deliverer thanked his lucky stars when he narrowly missed making front page headlines himself. Barnstaple foot distributor Ronald Dalling, 73, had left his newspaper trolley against a gatepost when it was crushed by a car

A NORTH Devon Gazette newspaper deliverer thanked his lucky stars when he narrowly missed making front page headlines himself.

Barnstaple foot distributor Ronald Dalling, 73, had left his newspaper trolley against a gatepost when it was crushed by a car involved in an accident in Bickington Road, Barnstaple, last Wednesday morning.

The trolley - containing about 50 newspapers - was completely destroyed after being left pinned against the gatepost and wall while Ronald posted a copy of the paper.

"I was delivering a newspaper opposite the chip shop and just heard one hell of a bang," he said.

"It was so loud I closed my eyes - I didn't have a clue what it was and then I saw the car and my trolley.

"It was very frightening; if I'd have had the trolley in my hands, it would have taken my legs off.

"A policeman told me it must have been my lucky day and joked that I should go into the shop across the road and buy a lottery ticket."

A police spokesperson said that two vehicles - a blue Rover 214 and a red Hyundai Getz - were involved in the collision on the B3233 with the junction of Beechwood Avenue.

"The driver of one of the vehicles was taken to hospital suffering minor injuries," she said.

But while his trolley was a write-off, Ronald - who has been delivering the Gazette for five years - still made sure the news got through.

"The police said I couldn't remove the trolley but they let me take out the newspapers and they were all delivered on time," he said.