A DUNFERMLINE garage kindly offered their help after a key NHS worker discovered two tyres on her car had been slashed deliberately outside her home.

The employee, who lives in Touch and did not want to be named, was distraught when she discovered the mindless vandalism and said it could have put lives at risk.

She works for NHS 24, which is fielding calls from people worried they have coronavirus, and said: "Our job is vital.

"With GP surgeries shut, NHS 24 is inundated, we're getting hammered and the severity of some of the calls is right up there, it just means everyone is going home exhausted.

"They've already got people off ill or with symptoms, they would've been one person down and every member of staff is vital at the moment, just like anywhere else in the NHS.

"There's also the thought that if I fell ill at night, there's no way I'd be able to get myself to hospital so they're putting my life at risk as well."

She continued: "It's very annoying and I was really upset.

"My car was parked in the street outside my home and when I went out this morning I saw two tyres on the passenger side had been slashed.

"It looked like it had been done with a knife and my was car was the only one in the street that had been targeted. I was absolutely devastated.

"NHS 24 is in South Queensferry so my car is important for me to get to and from my job, especially as our shifts vary.

"Sometimes I could be finishing after midnight and you can't get public transport then."

The NHS worker said a very good friend, Derek Walker, had posted on social media about her experience and that's when Osborne Motors, based in Rumblingwell, stepped in.

The MOT testing station and repairs centre, a family firm run by Michael and Ann Osborne, collected the damaged tyres that same day and put her back on the road 24 hours later with new tyres, all free of charge.

Ann said: "I saw it on Facebook and felt so sorry for her that we wanted to help.

"She's a single mum that works for NHS 24 and didn't know where to turn.

"There were big cuts in the tyres, it was definitely deliberate and she didn't know why."

She added: "I'd heard something this morning that the cars of some doctors and nurses down south were being targeted because people thought they were bringing the virus into their communities, it's maybe nothing to do with that but I just thought it's an awful thing to happen, especially at this time.

"It's nice to do a good turn for someone, especially as NHS workers are doing such a good job for everyone else, and she really needs her car."

The NHS worker told the Press: "They were fabulous, I just couldn't believe it and was dumbstruck by their generosity.

"The fact they came down the same day, I was just so thankful.

"I genuinely love my job, it's not for everyone as you're dealing with people's lives, and it can be very stressful at the best of times.

"Right now, that's increased 10-fold but, thanks to Osborne Motors, my car is one less thing to worry about!"

A police spokesperson said: "On Thursday April 9, police received a report of damage to the tyres of a car which had been parked outside a block of flats.

"Anyone with information about this is urged to contact 101, quoting reference 1054 of 9 April, or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

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