Having blogged about Middle East transport legends Astran, after being sent some pictures by regular contributor Ashley Coghill, he's sent me a few more plus a request to Biglorryblog.

He also has some answers for BLB readers who wanted to know more about the trucks and drivers that appeared in the BBC film 'Destination Doha'. Indeed he writes: "There was a 111 Scania - GUL 588N, a 6x4 140 Scania - NVW 484P and a Leyland Marathon - SLO 707R. I have to say I don’t know where they eventually ended up, but Astran kept the pair of Swedes running and 'sent the Marathon back' to where it came from as it was SO unreliable! Actually, Leyland had it painted white and lent it to Astran for 'a short period'! From what I can gather, I don’t think they really knew where it was sent until the filming started.

As for the drivers, Dave Poulton (Scanny 140) is still driving trucks. As far as I know he works nights on a trunking job. Rivers (Marathon) was employed by Leyland as a test driver and after the film he went back to that job. Frank Hook did not like the job at all (he was on his first and last trip) and went back to his preferred job as a merchant seaman. John Williams unfortunately died a few years ago while resting at a truckstop in Germany on route to the Middle East.... He was a legend amongst those on the Asian routes."

Meanwhile Ashley says: "it would be nice to get peoples' reaction to this Astran stuff. I wonder if there's anyone else out there who has any Middle East photos that they would like to share with me? I'm actually three quarters of the way through a book about the Middle East and although I've got 'heaps' of info, I'm always on the look out for more! Is this the sort of request you could post?"

Well yes Ash and if anyone wants to contact Ashley start with e-mailing him on Ashleycoghill@aol.com