I recently went to a local branch of a national tyre chain to have two front tyres replaced and the front alignment checked.

After a time the mechanic came to me and said they could not do the work as 'your key to the key nuts is damaged'.

I said what can I do to which he replied it was my problem.

I rang the head office to explain the key was okay when I went in (I used it last and kept it safe in the boot).

They said I could not prove it was 'necessarily' the mechanics fault and offered no redress.

Fortunately the local Ford dealer got me a new key in a few days. On talking to them about the 'damaged one' I was informed the nut had been damaged by using an air gun to remove the nut, a procedure Fords advise against.

I watched the tyre mechnaic at work and in my innocents saw him use the air wrench to try to remove the key nut as well as 'bashing' it many times to try to get the key to stay on.

I advise people to be wary when getting tyres changed as the 'mechanics' may not be as aware as they ought to be. Kwik Fit still refuse to compensate me for the new key.