Builders surprised by video fame after Farage incident

Paul Stott and Mick Wright said the gate to their fenced-off compound had been left open while they worked

Two construction workers who tackled a protester who threw objects at Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage in Barnsley said they are "surprised" after a video of the incident went viral.

Builders Paul Stott and Mick Wright were working on Eldon Street when objects were thrown at Mr Farage's open-topped bus during a campaign visit on Monday.

More than a million people have watched the footage, posted on Mr Farage's X account earlier this week, which shows a man being bundled out of a fenced-off compound used by the workers.

Josh Greally, 28, from Clowne in Derbyshire, has been charged with using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour with intent to cause fear.

Mr Stott and Mr Wright were working for Sheffield-based contractors Creative Building Projects at the time.

Mr Stott told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We saw the bus turn up, saw something hit the bus, and saw someone in the compound.

"Our priority was to get him out.

“We don’t mess about. We just threw him out. We usually keep the gate shut, it must have been opened.

“Reform UK said thanks for what we did. Our bosses were quite thankful.”

Following their intervention, the man attempted to flee the scene but was intercepted by police officers.

Video taken of the event has since been viewed 1.8m times, a fact Mr Stott found "quite surprising".

“We didn’t do it because it was Reform. It didn’t matter who was there, we can’t have people in the compound," said Mr Wright.

Mr Greally has been released on bail to appear at Barnsley Magistrates' Court on 26 June.