South Gloucestershire | Archive | 2005 | December | 16
From the archive, first published Friday 16th Dec 2005.
A HOMELESS Iranian woman has moved eastwards towards London, after spending four weeks camped in a South Gloucestershire lay-by.
Following a miserable period near Aust Service Station, where she was attacked, robbed and exposed to the bitterly cold weather, the woman - known only as Mahin and thought to be in her 50s - was taken to Berkshire last week in yet another step on her journey towards joining her family in London.
Capturing the attention of many people in and around Aust, Mahin was often visited and given food, drinks and money during her month-long stay.
Efforts were even made by the local authority and residents to help take her to the capital but she had turned down all offers until now.
Newport councillor Laura Buchanan-Smith, who brought Mahin to Aust from Wales, picked her up from the service station last week.
Mahin and all her belongings have now been taken to within striking distance of London.
"She just told me that she wanted to move on," Cllr Buchanan-Smith told the Gazette on Monday.
"So I came back last Tuesday morning to pick her up and took her as close to London as I felt was necessary."
Cllr Buchanan-Smith, who visited Mahin up to three times a week at Aust, said she felt Mahin would probably find sufficient shelter where she is now.
"Having spoken to her daughter on the phone we agreed a place to drop Mahin off," Cllr Buchanan-Smith added.
"For safety reasons I am not going to say where she is but I am confident she will be secure and well looked after by local authorities."
Aust parish councillor Mike Hawkins said he hoped that Mahin would find shelter and comfort wherever she went next.
"She was a source of great concern to a number of people in the area," he said.
"Then when she was attacked people were left with the nagging feeling in the backs of their heads as to whether she was safe there or not.
"If I can be sure she has been taken somewhere which is safer and more protected than where she was, then I am pleased she has left."
Thornbury Police confirmed that they were aware of Mahin's departure from South Gloucestershire.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008