For one Turkish man, Basildon has become almost a home from home.

Truck driver Fetih Katran, 55, has been ferrying textiles between Istanbul and the Bowden Terminal, in Luckyn Lane on the Pipps Hill Industrial Estate for the past 15 years.

Second home - trucker Fetih Katran has been running truckloads of merchandise from Turkey to Basildon for 15 years Picture: ROB PRITCHARD

Fetih, a married father-of-five, takes between five and seven days to complete each journey for hauler Ulunak in his huge white 18-wheeler.

Fetih once went on a tour of Basildon with a Turkish friend he met on one visit, and liked what he saw of the town.

"I like to come to Basildon. The people are very nice and very helpful, and the police always make sure that we are okay when we stay here."

Published Tuesday, June 17, 2003

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