A BUS company has apologised after one of its drivers was seen shaking hands with scores of anti-lockdown protesters.

About 1,000 demonstrators brought Brighton city centre traffic to a standstill yesterday afternoon.

Protesters flew banners, blew whistles and shouted "freedom" at the public as they made their way through the streets.

Video from the protest shows a 14C County Hospital and Brighton Station bus bought to a halt by the demonstrators in Queens Road.

The driver beeps in support and shakes hands with scores of protesters as they pass by - breaking Covid safety rules.

READ MORE >> About 1,000 anti-lockdown protesters bring city centre traffic to a standstill

Brighton and Hove Buses' managing director Martin Harris said: “We apologise to the people of Brighton and Hove - and, in particular to our customers, that our driver has not stuck to the basic Covid safety rules of hands-face-space, which are also company policy.

“There's no excuse for not following them. 

“An investigation is already underway into why our driver broke these."

Crowds began gathering at Brighton Station shortly after noon, handing out flyers while chanting “you can stick your Covid passport up your a***”.

Brighton bus driver shakes hands with anti-lockdown protesters

Brighton bus driver shakes hands with anti-lockdown protesters

The meeting point for the protest was at Hove Lawns Peace Statue, where protesters gathered from 1pm.

Seafront traffic was brought to a halt as the protesters crossed the A259 road near Brighton Palace Pier.

The large crowd walked past Steine Gardens while a loud-speaker played a rap song with the lyrics “don’t take the vaccine”.

Honks of support could be heard as the protesters made their way up North Street. 

A woman with a microphone berated customers as they enjoyed food and drink in New Road restaurants. Another protester tried to "educate" people laughing at the group.

There were chants of “shame on you" as the crowd arrived outside the BBC offices in Queens Road.