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DRUNKEN yobs surrounded and tried to force a councillor and his wife to stop their car as they drove home through Malmesbury town centre in the early hours.

Driving instructor Ray Sanderson and his wife Margaret were so shocked by the incident they called the police.

He said: "They were all across the road and they just wouldn't move, they were hell-bent on trying to stop us."

It comes as the town waits to hear whether a bid for CCTV funding from North Wiltshire District Council has succeeded.

The couple had given a lift to friends after a dinner dance and Mrs Sanderson was driving back through the town at 1.45am on Saturday when they encountered the crowd at the top of the high street.

"I told Margaret to keep on driving, but they just wouldn't go away," said Mr Sanderson, who teaches defensive driving techniques.

"We kept going at about 5mph and eventually she managed to push her way through these people. They were out of their brains, they were just animals. They were shouting and staggering all over the place.

"It was very frightening. I hate to think what would have happened if she had been on her own. That is what prompted me to call the police as soon as I got home.

"It is the first time I have ever seen it like that in Malmesbury."

Sgt Dave Stevenson of Malmesbury Police confirmed: "We are looking into this incident as part of a continuing investigation into violence in the area."

That inquiry began after a mass brawl back in March saw several people injured. A series of arrests have been made.

A review of the licence for the Guildhall Bar is also due to be heard by district councillors on June 16.

Mr Sanderson, who has been leading the push to have CCTV installed in the town centre, said the incident made a strong case for it.

"I didn't recognise any of them, but cameras would have helped the police to identify them."

8:50am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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