If my mother could see me now a5

to back rows of terraced houses. All of a sudden there were headlights in the far end of the lane and the unmistakable shout of one of our previous victims.

It took a couple of seconds before we realised what was going on and all the while the lights were coming towards us. We scattered down the lane and as we reached the end the majority split up and disappeared into the surrounding streets and back lanes. I like an idiot, ran straight all the while the car was gaining on me; he couldn't go too fast as the lanes were narrow and often strewn with refuse bins.

I ran for all I was worth but he was gaining on me. I knew that if I could make it to the end of the lane his progress would be impeded by a stone bollard that blocked the exit of the alley. I could see the bollard fast approaching so I looked around to check his progress; he was about two yards behind me and gaining.

I could see the whites of the eyes of the two men in the front seats of their beige Ford Capri mark one. I urged my legs to move faster but they were at full stretch as the bumper closed to within inches of my calf muscles. I passed the bollard and heard a screech of brakes, I scrambled up the nearby side of the ‘motorway’ (A470) and made good my escape. I'm