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Magnetic personality
Page 66
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The latest addition to the HA armoury is strangely attractive
Hot off the presses from the Highways Agency comes news of the latest weapon in its armoury to keep the country's roads flowing freely.
Is it a sophisticated traffic management system? Some sort of mega-computer coupled with a huge satellite and a Star Trek-style array of blinking lights? More traffic cops in funky-coloured 4x4s? A large, clockwork policeman that shoots lasers from its eyes?
Nope; it's a big magnet.
The magnet in question is attached to a road sweeper and it has been used to clear debris from several major routes in the South-East, including the M4, M3 and A34. According to the press release, over the past 18 months it has picked up nails, spanners, wheelnuts, scaffold clips and money.
In fact given that the total weight of the metal collected so far is some three tonnes, you can't help but wonder if there's small family car stuck to the magnet somewhere, its occupants wondering if they will be allowed out any time soon.