N arlton Television, which won the London weekday franchise from Thames,
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is planning to put truckers back on the TV in Routes, a twice-weekly soap about two families in the road haulage business.
Does this mean our industry is about to become sexy and scandalous at last? We can but hope...
Routes is the brainchild of Julia Smith, creator of EastEnders. Whether Dirty Den will make an appearance is not known; casting has yet to begin — Julia, I'm free...
Shy truckers
ogue truckers sneakily taking a short cut across a 15th century bridge over the River Tees at Barnard Castle have had their game put to an end.
Video cameras have been installed to record vehicle registrations. Your number's up, lads.
On the buses
1 ife on the buses is by no means humdrum, as these true stories illustrate.
In Crawley, Sussex two drivers from rival companies came to blows after engaging in a leapfrogging race to get to customers first.
Panther driver Andrew Hull became enraged when Peter Drummond, driving for London & Country, allegedly hid in sideroads, only to suddenly roar out ahead of him and get to the bus stop first.
When Drummond did a U-turn across a dualcarriageway to get to a large queue of shoppers Hull made an emergency stop, blocking the London & Country bus and hurling a passenger to the floor. He then jumped out and punched Drummond in the face, cutting his lip. Hull has been bound over to keep the peace, and magistrates found Drummond guilty of a breach of the peace; no further action will be taken.
Less violent —although perhaps more violet — is the tale of Doncaster-based Eager Beaver bus driver Andy Wanless who dyed his six-inch goatee beard blue. His employer was not amused and ordered him to re-dye it black, or shave it off.
"We need to give customers a feeling of security when travelling — this individual's appearance was not conducive to this," says the company.