LOCAL police have praised the patience of motorists left gridlocked during the Critical Mass demonstration last week.

The demonstration was promoting International Car Free Day and attracted a high police presence.

After demonstrators received a warning from police for trying to disrupt traffic, a route was agreed for protestors to cycle round the city with a police escort.

But motorists had their patience tested after the slow progress of the demonstration left traffic at a virtual standstill.

Superintendent Bernard Lawson, the force's operations manager at Lancaster, said: "While we managed to keep disruption to a minimum there were still delays for motorists using some of the streets in and around the centre.

"We are grateful they were so patient because it certainly helped us in what was quite a complex policing operation."

He added that people had cooperated with police to avoid a repeat of problems caused by a similar demonstration two years ago.

He said: "We are sorry that people were inconvenienced but we did try to strike the right balance between allowing this group to make their protest and at the same time endeavouring to ensure local people could drive safely."

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