Its official. 90% of Japans monthly output of 4WD vehicles (you know, the big ones) are to be found in Nailsworth. I know, I walked down a bit of the 'W' the other day and had to get out of the way of them all.

I wondered what they were all doing here (actually, that's not what I thought at all, but what I actually thought is unrepeatable so that bit is made up), so looking for some answers, I knocked on the door of the local constabulary. There was a light on, so I knew somebody was in. (honest, they really were in!) I asked Inspector Old Market what they were all doing here.

He put down his fish and chips, scratched his armpit, sniffed his fingers, paused and in between being sick, told me that a container ship bound for Bristol Docks had become lost in fog and had run aground in the stream by the Bus Station. The only way to float the ship off was to off load the cargo of 4WD vehicles. Where's the ship now then, I hesitantly asked, glancing in the direction of the stream in case I had missed it.

Dunno, he replied, but thank God it aint here no more, It's totally out place in this town. In what way I asked (I was pushing my luck at this point, anyone could see that he was getting agitated by my questions. Also, I think he wanted to go inside and wash something out of his beard) After a long pause, he offered
'It was made of STEEL'

Sensing that I was thinking he had just made the whole thing up he produced a photograph of the event, adding that I could put it on the web if I wanted to. The rest is history.