Amarillo singer Tony Christie’s tour bus ambushed by migrants

Tony Christie's tour bus was ambushed (Picture: PA)

Singer Tony Christie has described how his tour bus was ambushed by a group of men after it stopped for fuel near a migrant camp in France.

The 73-year-old was returning from a European tour with his band and wife Sue, 68, when their bus had to fill up at a service station near Dunkirk early on Saturday.

MPs to debate if shops should be banned from opening on Boxing Day

Christie said the couple were sleepig after a party on board to celebrate the successful trip when they were awoken by their driver and tour manager who were 'shaking'.

'I couldn't believe it. They could have got into the coach, what the hell would they have done?' he told the Daily Mail.

'It's the second time it's happened to the coach driver. The first time he was stabbed by a spike. These poor drivers take a hell of a risk.

'I feel really sorry for these people, I know they're desperate but we shouldn't be scared to travel.'

The petrol station on the A16 motorway outside Dunkirk was near the Grande-Synthe migrant camp, around 27 miles east of Calais.

Christie said the driver found himself 'surrounded' by a group of five men as he filled the tank.

When he shouted at the group that they were being recorded by security cameras they dispersed.

'But then our tour manager found a man hiding with the stage equipment in the trailer,' Christie said.

When he was discovered the man threatened to kill the manager before fleeing the scene.

Christie enjoyed a number one when (Is This The Way To) Amarillo was re-released as part of Comic Relief in 2005 and the tour group were returning from a final gig in Bonn, Germany.

He told the newspaper: 'I think I will fly from now on, I don't think I'll go on the road again.'

Source: Amarillo singer Tony Christie's tour bus ambushed by migrants