SUFFOLK cabbie Ron Grant still does not know whether he will be prosecuted after his taxi ran away and hit a pensioner - even though manufacturer Vauxhall is today sending out recall letters.

SUFFOLK cabbie Ron Grant still does not know whether he will be prosecuted after his taxi ran away and hit a pensioner - even though manufacturer Vauxhall is today sending out recall letters.

A 63-year-old woman was left with serious leg injuries after the accident in Felixstowe three months ago.

Vauxhall is looking at a number of complaints about Vectra cars rolling away due to allegedly ineffective handbrakes and today issued a fresh warning to owners to make sure they apply the handbrake fully and leave their cars in gear.

The company said today it believes the handbrake system used in the Vectra is safe.

However, it has decided to implement a modification to the handbrake mechanism to reduce the possibility of a partial release when the handbrake is not correctly set.

“Owners of 250,000 manual transmission Vectra and Signum models (produced from 2002) will receive a letter from the company requesting that they contact their nearest retailer to arrange for the modification, at no cost to the customer,” said a spokesman.

Police say their investigations to see if the vehicle had been left parked properly in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, with its handbrake on or not, have still not been completed and it could be several weeks yet before a decision is made.

If they find the handbrake had not been pulled properly into place Mr Grant could face charges for not leaving his cab safe and secure.

A police spokeswoman said: “Our investigations are on-going at this stage and there is still a way to go. No charges have been brought yet.”

The woman was walking on the pavement at the top of Bent Hill when she was crushed against a wall. She was taken to Ipswich Hospital suffering fractured legs and a broken ankle.

Mr Grant, 66, a taxi driver for 23 years, had parked his vehicle outside Coastal Taxis while he picked up details of his work shifts.

He is adamant he put the handbrake on.

“I switched off the car, pulled on my handbrake, put on my hazard lights and locked the car - that's what I always do, it's my habit,” he said.

Have you received a letter from Vauxhall? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk