NORTH Yorkshire police have launched an investigation after an 80-year-old coach driver claimed he was attacked following a row over petrol rationing.

Sophie Murgatroyd said her father, Keith Murgatroyd, was filling up his coach, which he uses to take children to school, at an Esso garage at Scotch Corner.

He was there was a £30 limit on fuel spending - excluding HGVs - but it takes up to £800 to fill up the coach.

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Ms Murgatroyd said her father asked an employee at the garage if the limit could be lifted, as he was a HGV driver - but he refused.

Following the exchange, Ms Murgatroyd said the employee got onto the bus and "repeatedly" punched her 80-year-old father.

The Northern Echo:

 

Mr Murgatroyd was left “bleeding on his ears” after a member of the public intervened.

Ms Murgatroyd said: “It’s not sitting well with me at all, I appreciate that I’m his daughter but I am a solicitor as well so I’m trying to see it from both sides.

"This member of staff followed him out, went up the bus steps and punched him round the back of the head, and continued to punch him until a member of the public dragged him off.

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“My dad was bleeding on his ears, and he was extremely shaken, I think he had about five people who all rang the police as they were so shocked with what had happened, I think there was about five reports of it so the police turned up really quickly."

Ms Murgatroyd said that CCTV had also captured the event unfold.

North Yorkshire Police said an investigation is underway, but that no arrests have been made.

A spokesperson for the force said: "A man is helping police with enquiries following the incident and the investigation is ongoing. Currently no charges have been brought."

Police say the man attended voluntarily.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages, who own Esso garage, said: "We are aware of an incident that has taken place at one of our sites.

"We take issues of colleague and customer safety very seriously and we are looking into this in line with our internal policies and procedures ‒ as a matter of priority.”

Read more: Man left with facial injuries after being punched in face in unprovoked attack

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