“Some jobs are dirtier than others.”

"You have to expect the unexpected in this job. And sometimes it’s not very pleasant – especially where toilets are involved. I’ve found all sorts blocking them, including toys that children have tried to flush away!

"However, it’s not just in the bathroom that children can cause havoc. Once I was called to a bungalow and right in the centre of the room was a wet patch on the carpet. But when I looked up, there was no sign of water. So where was it coming from?

"After an hour I still couldn’t find it. However, it turned out that the customer had been looking after her grandchildren that weekend. When I asked if they might have spilt something, she shook her head. Eventually though she decided to call her son. She then found out that the children had got up early, spilt a drink on the floor and not told her. Kids – don’t you love them."

Paul O’Driscoll, AA Home Emergency Response engineer