When your car breaks down in the UK it is a nuisance. When you break down abroad it can be a costly nightmare. That’s when mechanical breakdown cover really comes in to its own.

England fans Tom and Marion Wilks will be driving to Germany in time for the World Cup. The Devon couple regularly motor across Europe and know that if the worst happens, Cornhill Direct Rescue is only a phone call away.

Their nightmare scenario became reality last August when they broke down in France.

Mr Wilks, 71, said: ‘Nobody likes being stranded in a foreign country, so you can imagine how we felt when our car suddenly stopped near Strasbourg. Thankfully we are with Cornhill Direct Rescue and they sorted out everything for us.

‘We spent the night in a local hotel and were given a hire car to get back to Calais all paid for by Cornhill. They also booked the ferry crossing and we had another hire car waiting for us to make the rest of the journey to Devon. A week later my car was delivered to my local garage for repair.

‘I would recommend to any England fans driving to Germany to make

1. Cornhill Direct - Background

Cornhill Direct was established in 1995 and is part of Allianz Cornhill, one of the largest general insurers in the UK. Cornhill Direct provides car, home, travel and van insurance.

2. Cornhill Direct Rescue

Cornhill Direct Rescue is designed to provide motoring assistance to you after breakdown or an accident. Benefits of this service include:

- 24 Hour Emergency Helpline.

- Home and Roadside assistance.

- Recovery of your car and up to five passengers.

- If we cannot get you back on the road we will take you to your destination, your home or an approved garage, provided an approved garage can be found within a ten mile radius of the incident.

- The provision of a replacement driver if the only driver is ill or injured.

- Message forwarding to a colleague or relative.

- European motoring assistance included.