One of Ford's last scrappage customers was so sentimentally attached to her old car that she followed "Ally" to her automotive grave after taking delivery of a new Ford Fusion.

Mum-of-three Leona Murray, a BBC Essex producer, bought her 10-reg Ford Fusion Titanium this month, parting company with her first car – the only other vehicle she has ever driven.

The S-reg Nissan, which had belonged to her mother-in-law from new, was a Christmas present from husband Lee six years ago.

When the driver's window jammed shut last year, and Leona became locked out of "Ally" on her way back from holiday, she turned to Dagenham Motors in Barking.

Leona placed her order for a new Ford Fusion on the scrappage scheme, which provided a £2,000 incentive to replace any car 10 or more years old – along with a request to witness its predecessor's final demise.

BBC Essex colleague and breakfast show presenter, Ray Clark, joined Leona at the recycling company SITA UK to record "Ally" being crushed – a requirement for vehicles traded in under the Government scheme.

First the car was drained of all fluids before its battery and tyres were removed. Then the car body was reduced to a transportable size for onward shipment from Chelmsford to another depot for further processing.

"I was handed a bag containing my old car's badges, window stickers and even the 'Ally' decal which gave rise to its name," said Leona, who lives in Basildon.

"That produced a tear but, after that, the dismantling was so interesting to watch that I forgot to get upset."

Almost 45,000 new Fords were ordered with scrappage incentives – half of which were Ford Fiestas.

Engines for the Fiesta and Fusion ranges are assembled in Britain, with diesel units produced in Dagenham and petrol engines from Bridgend.

Jon Wellsman, Ford Britain sales director, said: "While the incentive scheme has expired, equally competitive Ford offers continue including the new Ford S-MAX range debuting in April, listed at over £2,000 less than the outgoing model."

(PR)