THIS WEEK IN 1985: Buggy wrecking crews rallied in their droves to test out new kit

When the Hampshire Buggy Centre, Kingston Road, asked for terrifying tots to volunteer to test new models, they were inundated with over 80 replies from would-be wrecking crews.

Proprietor Rosemary Richards asked child-minders with more than one child in their care to carry out the 18-month test-drive. After a series of initial inquiries, teaser questions, and tie-breakers, three winners were chosen.

Registered child-minder Rosemary Manson, of Chalkridge Road, East Cosham, who looks after four children aged one, three and four, said: ‘Over the years, with my own children, I have had several pushchairs – mostly buggies.

‘My garden shed looks a little bit like a graveyard for old pushchairs as we always keep broken ones, knowing full well that any new one will almost certainly need a spare part or two sooner or later.’

Another winner was Suzanne Micklefield, a child-minder and qualified nursery nurse, of Alameda Road, Widley, who volunteered the four children she looks after to be ‘guinea pigs.’

The third winner was Mrs S Elmore, of Southampton.