Pensioner takes wrong turn on his scooter and ends up on A27

A 90-YEAR-OLD took a wrong turning on his way to buy a morning newspaper - and ended up driving his mobility scooter on a dual carriageway.

Motorists on the 70mph road called police after spotting Stanley Murphy trundling along on the battery-powered buggy. It is thought he took a wrong turn at a roundabout after leaving his home in Shoreham, West Sussex and ended up travelling west along the A27.

Paving business owner James Dunne pulled his truck over and put on its flashing hazard lights in a bid to stop Mr Murphy.

Mr Dunne, 46, from nearby Worthing tried to flag him down and then called police. He said: "The old chap looked pretty confused and scared and looked like he was not going to stop. He started to try to overtake me but I got him to pull in. The police arrived a few minutes later. He did not say very much and looked pretty shell-shocked."

Police officers gave Mr Murphy a lift home. He said: "I don't know how I ended up on the A27 but I am thankful to everyone who helped me." Pc Jim Lockwood said: "I would like to thank the driver who put his flashing lights on to prevent the incident worsening and who helped deliver the scooter to his home address."

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "An electric mobility scooter would need to have a number plate and tax disc before it could be legally driven on a road like the A27. However, this gentleman was obviously confused and in the circumstances it is unlikely that we would take any further action."