Beatles tour fans spot Sir Paul at traffic lights

Neil Morton Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney smiles and waves from a car window while holding up a smartphone. Ringo Starr can be seen on the screen, wearing sunglasses. McCartney is dressed in a beige jumper with a light blue shirt collar underneath and several bracelets on his wrist.Neil Morton
Beatles fans were stunned to see Sir Paul McCartney chatting to Ringo

A tour guide who takes Beatles fans around Liverpool told how fans were stunned to see Sir Paul McCartney while waiting at traffic lights.

The chance encounter got even more surreal, when the Fab Four fans realised Sir Paul was at that very moment talking to fellow Beatle Ringo Starr on a video call.

"It was surreal," said Neil Morton, who has driven the Magical Mystery Tour bus around various Beatles sights in Liverpool for the last two years.

"I had pulled up at the traffic lights on Hope Street when who should I see - Sir Paul with Ringo on Facetime", he said.

"He waved to us and everybody took photos.

"The passengers could not believe it."

George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, with mop-top haircuts and wearing smart casual clothes, pose for a black and white photo in an office
George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney found fame in their home city before becoming global superstars

Fans were able to see the pop legend while the traffic lights remained on red.

"Nobody really got chance to speak with him," said Morton.

The tour guide revealed it was not his first encounter with the star, having come across him when he used to work at the Cavern Club.

"We were told not to take photos but I managed to sneak one," he said.

Sir Paul, who famously first found fame in his home city with The Beatles before they became global superstars, was in the city to present actor Stephen Graham with an award in a ceremony at his performing arts school.

Graham, who grew up in the Merseyside town of Kirkby, will be presented with a companionship of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) by the former Beatle and co-founder of the school.

LIPA has other Beatles connections, as it is based at the former Liverpool Institute school attended by Sir Paul and George Harrison and is neighbour to Liverpool Art College, where John Lennon studied.

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