Ham 'in a pickle'

An elderly radio ham caused traffic chaos and sparked a police hunt earlier this week, after setting out on a shopping trip to buy a new transceiver.

The 81-year-old man was eventually pulled-over by police after receiving a spate of calls from worried motorists who had spotted him driving his 8mph mobility scooter along a busy, 70mph dual-carriageway section of the A27 near Portsmouth in Hampshire on Monday.

Trucks and cars were forced to swerve out of the way as the 81-year-old man crawled along the middle of the A27.

Our intrepid radio amateur, who has not been named, set off from his home on Hayling Island near Havant some time before 11am on Monday, heading for the well-known amateur radio and electronics retailer Nevada, some seven miles away in Farlington on the outskirts of Portsmouth.

Mike Devereux, Nevada's Managing Director, told Southgate News: "We were amazed when he turned up at the showrooms in his slippers and buggy, having come the eight-mile ride from Hayling Island on the main roads!

"He is getting back in to Amateur radio and wanted to buy an Icom 7400 and power supply. Unfortunately, he could not remember his credit card pin number and ended up blocking the card and leaving empty handed.

"He left us for the homeward journey.. and the rest, as they say, is history."  Mike added "I am just relieved that he got back home in one piece !"

Police finally caught up with him shortly after 1pm on his return journey, after he'd initially evaded them on his outward trip. Although his four-mile spell on the dual carriageway caused traffic chaos, he was not breaking the law as he was not on a motorway.

Thankfully, he'll live to 'Tx' another day, after concerned police officers gave him some "stern" road safety advice, then took both the battery-powered scooter and its driver home in a police van.

Let's hope that when he finally does get back on-air, he's not heard signing /M!

• Our thanks to PW editor Rob Mannion for alerting us to this story, and to Mike Devereux of Nevada.