Ed's got a cushty van to earn a crust with (From Warrington Guardian)

Ed's got a cushty van to earn a crust with

LIFE is lovely jubbly for a Northwich man whose distinctive mode of transport is brightening up the town's roads.

Ed Mugridge, of Manor Street in Greenbank, causes more than a few stares when people catch sight of him wearing a flat cap and driving his yellow three-wheeled van, as though fresh from the set of much-loved comedy Only Fools and Horses.

Buying the van - a 1972 Reliant Regal Super Van III - just two months ago was a dream come true for the 29-year-old Army man, who got hooked on all things Trotter-related after watching the series when serving in Bosnia in 1996.

He said: "My mum and dad sent some videos over to Bosnia when I said how bored we were out there and we just watched them to death for about six months, then when I came home I watched the rest.

"I liked it before I went out, but didn't appreciate it as much as when I left Bosnia. Then I started to collect stuff, which has taken a lot of years."

Ed's collection of Only Fools and Horses memorabilia includes a script signed by the cast, Del Boy aftershave, T-shirts, posters, videos and, of course, the Trotters Independent Trading Company van, which Ed calls his 'pride and joy' - despite a few initial technical difficulties.

He said: "It's a bit of an eye turner, though I get the best reaction and the most laughs when I'm pushing it to the garage to get fixed.

"It's about 30 years old and needs a lot of work - but we're getting to the bottom of it now."

Ed is hoping to have the van up and running perfectly in the New Year, when he wants to set up a business hiring it out for weddings.

For more information about this, contact him on 01606 872704.

gbebbington@guardiangrp.co.uk