A break to catch a glimpse of the Queen turned into a farce for six Shefford workers. The men were standing on the kerbside hoping to see the royal car sweep along Clifton Road on its way to Chicksands. But minutes before Her Majesty appeared the long arm

A break to catch a glimpse of the Queen turned into a farce for six Shefford workers.

The men were standing on the kerbside hoping to see the royal car sweep along Clifton Road on its way to Chicksands.

But minutes before Her Majesty appeared the long arm of the law hauled the men, who work for Pressfab EVO Ltd on the Shefford Business Park, into the back of a police van for questioning.

The men were mistaken for members of Fathers for Justice who had allegedly threatened to disrupt the royal visit.

Despite their protestations the men were held until the Queen passed and then released whereupon they returned to work - on producing police cars!

The company they work for specialises in producing cars for police forces around the country including Bedfordshire.

A Bedfordshire police spokesman said: "We're sorry we inconvenienced these men, but the security of the Queen comes first.