Boris Johnson's battle bus was stranded for 45 minutes due to its second 'mirror problem' in as many days.
But this time it had nothing to do with Mirror journalists being banned from the bus - but due to a faulty wing mirror.
The campaign coach was forced to stop on a housing estate after a technical fault rendered it unsafe to drive.
The driver eventually fixed the problem on the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coach, which was unveiled by the Prime Minister at an event last week.
Boris Johnson was not on board at the time, having travelled by train to the housing development in Wixams, Bedford, earlier on Thursday.
Senior Tory aides told the Mirror as early as last week they could have access to the trip - the Tory leader’s first with the bus - but pulled the offer at the last minute.
Our reporter was then blocked from boarding the red, white and blue emblazoned campaign coach when she arrived in Manchester city centre, where it set off just before 8am.
The Conservative Party faced a backlash over their decision to ban Mirror journalists from Boris Johnson's election battle bus.
Media figures criticised the move as an attack on freedom of the press and a strategic blunder.
ITV's Robert Peston said: "Given that Boris Johnson wants to win traditional Labour seats, is it wise for the Tories to bar the Mirror from their bus?"
Labour MP David Lammy said: "Journalists who value press freedom should stand in solidarity with Daily Mirror and refuse to get on Boris Johnson's bus.
"The alternative is normalising and legitimising Donald Trump's tactics in the UK."
And senior Tory sources said that several Cabinet ministers were “uncomfortable” with the move and thought it was a “bad look” for the party to be excluding the media.
Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors said: "All mainstream media should be given equal access to the political parties fighting this election.
"To restrict some media voices is not acceptable nor compatible with the principle of media freedom."
