Police cars, ambulances and fire engines have sirens and flashing lights for a reason.

They’re to warn other road users that they are on their way to an emergency - and that they need a clear path. Imagine taxi customer Ian Mitchell’s surprise, then, when he discovered that the ‘emergency’ a fire engine was racing to wasn’t a fire or a road accident but…a locked bicycle.

A member of the public had asked for help when she found someone else had locked their bike to hers. Firefighters were able to cut her bike free.

We have absolutely no objection to the fire service helping out in this way, especially since if there had been a genuine emergency, the fire engine could have been redirected. But sirens and flashing lights? Were they really necessary?

Mr Mitchell doesn’t think so – and nor do we.