AA to fix pipes and hang pictures in homes

Britain's biggest breakdown organisation the Automobile Association, is to send patrols where they have never gone before - into its members homes.

In a radical departure for the 'fourth emergency service', the AA is planning to launch a nationwide fleet of 'handy men' and women, specially trained for domestic duties.

As well as continuing to rescue stricken motorists, the AA will answer SOS calls from householders with broken-down boilers, leaking pipes, dripping taps or faulty wiring. Its fully-trained home patrolmen and women will even erect garden fences, install showers and bathrooms – or just hang a picture.



The organisation is creating a brand new, AA-uniformed, liveried patrol fleet that will eventually be several thousand-strong to target Britain's 17.5 million private homes. The AA – which is owned by the Acromas Group – is investing tens of millions of pounds in the expansion, after more than a century of rescuing motorists at the roadside.

Householders will use the same call centres that are used, daily, to dispatch the organisation's 3,000 patrolmen to 10,000 roadside breakdowns. Just like drivers stranded at the roadside, home owners will be given a time of arrival and a reference number.

Repair men and women will even turn up in the familiar AA van – but without the flashing lights. AA members will get a discount on the new home operation but the service will be available to anybody.