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‘Mother and son’ get out of car and stage sit-down protest in right-of-way row with bus driver

PICTURES show the moment the occupants of a car got out and sat down in the road for an hour during a right-of-way dispute.

A man and woman – believed to be a mother and son – blocked the street to all traffic today (Tue) after coming up against an equally stubborn bus driver.

The woman can be seen sitting in the road before being removed by officers, Picture: Daniel Christie

Parked cars had caused an obstruction on the street in Penicuik, Midlothian, meaning the car and bus could not pass at the same time.

After a stand-off, the occupants of the car got out and sat down next to each other, blocking the town’s Windslow Drive.

As queues of traffic built up in both directions, the protestors ignored all requests to move.

After about half an hour of mayhem, police arrived and took away the man. A picture shows a man who appears to be in his late 20s being led away by officers as young children dance about excitedly nearby.

Officers returned roughly 20 minutes later for the woman, who had to be physically lifted in to a police car.

It remains unclear how, or even if, the abandoned car was removed.

20 minutes later the woman believed to be his mother was also picked up by officers. Picture: Daniel Christie

Scott Duncan, a fitness instructor with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I actually live right next to where it happened.

“I arrived just as the guy was getting bundled into the back of the police car.”

He added: “It was then another 20 minutes or so before another police van arrived and lifted the older female into the van. She did not make it easy for them as they literally had to carry her into the back. “

Blair Conway posted on Facebook a message from his father giving an account of what happened.

It stated: “Boy on Windsor Drive today refused to let the bus pass as he said he had right of way.

“He got out of his car and sat in the middle of the road. Police came and lifted him for a breach.

“Mentalist.”

On social media, Michael Murray wrote: “Love a protest. The bus driver would have had the easiest shift ever.”

Chris Davie wrote: “Only in the ruikie cuikie.”

Caitlin Metcalfe simply wrote: “What a rocket.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police in Midlothian were called to the Windsor Road area of Penicuik on Sunday 25 March at around 2.10pm following reports of a dispute involving the occupants of a car and the driver of a bus.

The spokeswoman said no-one had been charged in connection with the incident.

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