Spudman thanks recovery firm after A14 breakdown

A TikTok chef who broke down on a dual carriageway late at night has thanked a recovery service as well as police for their help in getting him home.

Spudman, whose real name is Ben Newman, has more than 4.3 million followers and is known as a street vendor selling jacket potatoes in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

After attending the Suffolk Show near Ipswich, he revealed on his social media page that his van had broken down on the A14 late on Thursday.

Jack Parker, owner of RB Commercial based in Ipswich, helped Spudman home and said his team was always happy to help.

Spudman was first helped to a service station near Sproughton by Suffolk Police and said on TikTok he "wasn't expecting a tow" from them.

He thanked the officers for their efforts in a video on Friday.

"We called out a recovery firm, they originally said they'd be half an hour and we paid a deposit, then they said they're going to be two-and-a-half hours," he added in his video.

"These guys (RB Commercial) just turned up randomly because they saw us on the side of the road and they are fans."

Mr Parker explained he had seen Spudman's TikTok and decided to help.

"Because we work that road a lot I knew roughly where he was just from his video," he said.

"At that time as well, lots of people were just turning up madly to the services where he was and taking pictures with him.

"The poor bloke just worked hard for two days and wanted to get home."

Mr Parker sent two of his drivers down to the service station and after some discussions it was decided they would take Spudman back to Tamworth, where they arrived at 03:00 BST on Friday.

Debriefing on his TikTok, Spudman added: "We had an amazing [Suffolk] Show.

"Shame about the van, these things happen... it's going to need a new engine."

Mr Parker said Spudman was "a really nice bloke, really sound" and stressed he would "help anyone" in need.

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