8 November 2011
The squirrel was unavailable for comment
Basingstoke patrol Andy Smith could ‘nut’ believe it when he attended a car parked next to an oak tree on a farm in Micheldever, Hampshire.
Andy says: “The member said their car had no power, so they assumed it was a problem with the turbo. However, when I looked over the car there was no obvious fault. I tried all the usual things but was left puzzled when nothing worked.”
Not to be beaten, Andy pressed on and got to the bottom of it after spotting an air pipe collapsing while the engine was being revved. Realising it must be blocked, he took the air intake off and the cause of the problem became immediately apparent.
“The pipe and air box were literally rammed with acorns – they just poured out. The air intake is about the width of a drinks can, so the squirrel obviously thought it made the perfect secret stash.”
The pipe and air box were literally rammed with acorns – they just poured out
Andy Smith, AA patrol
Andy used a handheld vacuum cleaner to clear out the last of the debris and, once reassembled, the car was as good as new. Before leaving, Andy briefed the member on how to check for any future squirrel sabotage.
Andy says: “It’s certainly one of the nuttiest breakdowns I’ve ever been out to – we couldn’t stop laughing – but I just hope the wee thing has plenty of other stashes buried away for the winter.”
The squirrel was unavailable for comment.
(8 november 2011)
