"I knew exactly what was needed"

For AA Patrols like myself, school holidays are always busy as parents take to the roads with their children to catch flights, go on day trips or visit family and friends. And last half term was no exception.

I was on the M6 when I got a call to attend a breakdown just a few miles away. When I arrived at the breakdown I was met by a father - his young son was sitting in the front passenger seat. The father looked very relieved when he saw me. The boy looked pale and worried. And I could see why – the engine had obviously caught fire as the bonnet was scorched and I could still smell burning.

When I opened the bonnet my worse fears were confirmed. The fan belt had completely disintegrated and the water pump had seized up. There was no way this car was going anywhere. I told the father that I would have to tow them the rest of the way.

While the father was explaining to his son what was going to happen, I could tell that the boy wasn't happy. In fact, he was adamant that he didn't want to get in the van if I was going to be in there. I figured that his father was going to need a bit of time and space to persuade him. There was a burger place just up the road, so I said that I would take them there so that they could have something to eat and drink and freshen up. Also, I would give the boy a short journey to get used to the van – and me. I could then come back and load up the car. On the way there, the boy didn't say a word and that wasn't just shyness. There was something about him that reminded me of my own son.

About half an hour or so later I picked them up and we set off to finish their journey. Every now and then I asked the boy if he was ok, but he seemed more interested in the satnav, just like my son would be - and that's when the penny dropped.

Some time later the boy pointed at a photo I keep in the van and asked me, "Who's that?" "That's my son", I replied proudly. Then I turned to the father and smiled. "He's autistic too."

Bryan Bickerton, AA Patrol