REGULAR readers of the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard will have read harrowing reports about deaths of drivers who have gone into Fenland drains. But having an emergency life hammer in a vehicle could potentially help a driver or passenger escape from a

REGULAR readers of the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard will have read harrowing reports about deaths of drivers who have gone into Fenland drains.

But having an emergency life hammer in a vehicle could potentially help a driver or passenger escape from a car which has plunged into a water-filled drain.

And in a bid to help the residents of Fenland we have teamed up with Cambridgeshire County Council to give away 50 free life-hammers.

The hammers purchased through bulk discount at �3.97 each, are now available from our office at 51 High Street, March.

They will be given to the first 50 people who come into the office and request one.

Each person will also receive a free ice scraper.

The county council has also given 100 emergency life hammers to Cambridgeshire Police and these will be given out at community engagement events across Fenland in the next few weeks.

Phil Rennie, road safety officer for Cambridgeshire County Council, said the life-hammer give away is part of a wider education campaign to reduce the number of casualties on Fenland roads.

He said: "Our research has shown that many of the accidents have been a result of people driving inappropriately, which is why we want people to think..... 'slow down and don't drown' along these waterside roads and not have accidents in the first place.

"But we know that if the worst thing happens and people do end up in the water an emergency life hammer can be invaluable in getting them and their passengers out of the vehicle."

He added: "It is important to strike the corner of the car window with the hammer as this is more likely to break. But crucially it is important to make sure drive to the conditions and don't end up in an accident in the first place."

This emergency life hammer offer comes through the work of Cambridgeshire County Council in conjunction with East Cambridgeshire District Council through the local area agreement.