Julie Cassidy really got her knickers in a twist – and thank goodness she did, says her husband Steve.

The couple were speeding down the motorway near Cardiff on Sunday when Steve noticed the temperature guage on his car rising far too rapidly.

Pulling on to the hard shoulder the problem was soon discovered – the fan belt had broken.

"We were stumped. We had nothing in the car and there was nothing suitable on the side of the road," said Steve, who is well known as the Review's photographer.

But just when it looked as though the couple had had their chips (no pun intended as Julie owns the fish and chip shop in Whitecroft) Steve had a flash of inspiration.

Needs must in an emergency and Julie's essentials were cut to the required length then twisted and knotted to become the emergency fanbelt.

"They worked a treat. We drove all the way home to Yorkley without a hitch ... you could say I'm Julie's number one fan," said Steve.