On Mon, 12 Aug 2019 18:19:05 +0400
Spike wrote:

Later examination of
the offending tyre showed a tiny manufacturing defect that when in
use was slowly abrading a very small area in the inner tube, which as
a result had finally let go in a big way - fortunately at low speed
rather than those of the motorway.

Which is why we always check the casing and rim carefully when replacing
a tube, and carry a spare tube or two alongside the puncture kit.

I'm still grateful to those two Z-car officers for their help and
assistance.

Hitching (unsuccessfully) somewhere near Dartford about 2:00 AM my GF
and I attracted the interest of a police patrol - they questioned us
and then (having decided we weren't up to no good) gave us a lift most
of the way to Dover, which I thought was jolly decent of them.