A BLIND Newcastle Emlyn woman and her guide dog had a miraculous escape after being hit by a lorry while walking along the pavement.

Rory Roberts and guide dog Nutmeg were walking down Bryndioddef Hill, Adpar, just past Castle House Vets, when an articulated lorry mounted the pavement and the trailer struck them as it turned into Lloyds Terrace.

Rory’s white stick was smashed as the pair of them ended up in the shrubbery badly shaken and shocked but somehow otherwise uninjured.

The lorry did not stop but other motorists who saw the incident followed it to bring the driver back while others came to the aid of 73-year-old Rory and eight-year-old black Labrador Nutmeg.

“We ended up in a heap in the shrubbery. The noise from the vehicle was incredible and terrifying and I was completely sure we were going to meet our end,” said Rory, who was walking down to the health food shop she and her husband Simon started nearly 30 years ago and which has only just reopened after an arson attack earlier this year.

“How the trailer didn’t get us I will never know. Luckily my little Nutmeg is safe and unscathed by the incident but on the couple of occasions I have gone out since I have returned home in tears, shaking and scared witless.

“I just keep thinking that at least I am still here but that if it had been a wheelchair or pushchair instead of my white stick, the outcome could have been even more horrific.

“Thank goodness Nutmeg was on the inside of me or she would certainly be dead now.”

The incident happened at around 5.15pm last Monday (September 16) and a police spokesperson confirmed they are investigating.

“Officers are appealing for anyone who saw the incident, or saw a white articulated lorry driving along the road around the time of the incident, to get in touch.

Report information online at: http://bit.ly/DPPReportOnline, by email at: contactcentre@dyfed-powys.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Quote reference: DP-20190916-297

Rory said she believes there is a problem generally with large lorries and tractors speeding through town and with inconsiderate drivers parking on pavements.

“I am sick to the back teeth of with the speed large vehicles travel through the town,” she added.

“There is a 20mph limit but many vehicles do not conform to this and for large, heavy tractor, lorries and artics, 20mph is way too fast.

“There is also a massive problem with pavement parking and big vehicles mounting the kerbs to get through because the roads are simply not built for such monsters.

“Please, please keep those huge wheels on the road, not on the pavement and drive at a speed suitable for the size of your vehicle and the proximity of pedestrians.

“And don’t park on the pavements – there is no excuse other than downright laziness.”