IT was with great interest that I read your article (Steel lorry in accident, Advertiser May 14). I would like to put the matter straight about the actual roadside assistance.

I was a main witness, actually following behind the cars involved.

I have taken great offence at Redditch fire station officer Mark Preece's comments as to the help administered at the scene.

Firstly, I have been First Aid trained and know that unless in imminent danger, you move no one, which is what we did.

The lady with the baby was already wandering about the carriageway when I got to the scene, so had therefore got herself out of the vehicle.

I reassured her, sat her out of harm's way and returned to the other car.

The lorry driver was also out of his cab and speaking to the other lady who was very distressed but still sitting in her car.

We helped calm her the best we could in the circumstances and found her car to be smouldering. We still did not move her.

We waited nearly 20 minutes for fire and police in which time the driver of the vehicle that had turned over was also out of the car, not touched by myself or others at the scene.

We were not idiots just trying to score brownie points, we were genuine people trying to help with a little bit of knowledge and knowing that to move people could do more harm than good.

Do we just drive past and leave it to the firefighters or do we try to help using knowledge gained and carefully assessing the situation as we did so?

I will in future think very carefully, witness or not, as to whether I ever stop at an accident again.

I am very angry and hurt at this unprovoked reaction from the fire service.

Mrs D HOUGHTON

Butler Street

Astwood Bank