THE "DOC" CAUGHT UP IN SERIOUS CAR WASH

We covered this last week but so many of you have mailed in now that the Evening News has covered it we thought we better stick it in again.

Manchester United legend Tommy Docherty had to be rescued after he stepped out of his Mercedes in an automatic car wash - and was trapped as the machine started up.

The former Reds manager was only saved from serious injury by a quick-witted attendant, who pushed an emergency stop button before he was engulfed by the mechanism.

Fire crews were called to free Docherty's trapped right foot - and he was then taken to hospital where a gash required five stitches.

When the machine did not appear to be working, Docherty got out to see what was wrong - and the car wash suddenly started up and trapped him.

An employee at the garage heard screams, switched off the machine and rushed out to find a wet and shaken Docherty with his foot wedged in the tracking device, used to pull cars into the wash.

Three fire engines and two ambulances arrived and Docherty was then taken to Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Glasgow-born Docherty, 73, who has been hobbling around with a bandaged foot, joked:

"I never thought I'd get tackled by a car wash. After waiting for a while, I didn't think it was working, so I got out to have a look - only for it to start.

"I'm glad they switched it off when they did, because I might have needed more than five stitches otherwise, but I had a bit of a chuckle after the firemen had got me out.

"I think I'll have to be a bit more careful in the future."

There is no truth in the rumour that the machine had been tampered with by one Patrick Crerand esq.