Truck shields mobility scooter driver on motorway

The woman was eventually escorted from the motorway by police

Police have thanked a truck driver who shielded an elderly woman on a mobility scooter on one of Birmingham's busiest roads.

The scooter driver was travelling on the A38 (M) Aston Expressway on Thursday at about 15:45 GMT.

A man driving a recovery truck also used his warning lights to alert other motorists while National Highways activated go slow signs, police said.

Officers escorted the woman off the motorway, talked to her about driving her scooter safely and checked on her wellbeing, they added.

"We’d especially like to thank the driver of a recovery truck who used his vehicle to shield the woman and warn others of the danger," a spokesperson said.

The Aston Expressway is a seven lane motorway about two miles (3.2km) long with no central reservation.

Eileen Tracey-Fletcher posted on Facebook on Thursday: "Apologies to anyone held up on inbound Aston Expressway this afternoon from 4 o'clock by a recovery truck with its beacons flashing.

"That would have been my lovely husband escorting an old dear on a mobility scooter from Erdington to Pump Island, where the police took over."

She added the woman made a rude gesture when he tried to direct her off at Aston.