An Edinburgh band were forced to flee France on a fishing boat in order to escape quarantine.
The group rushed back to the capital after a last-minute 14-day quarantine rule was imposed by the UK on anyone travelling from France, Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks and Caicos, and Aruba.
Dunedin Consort, a 13 member baroque ensemble, raced to get home before the 4:00 am deadline.
Tickets for the Eurostar had already sold out and air fares home were six times more expensive than usual, reports the Daily Record.
The band had been playing at a music festival in Normandy when they heard about the new quarantine rules. They managed to get back to the UK on a fishing boat - with just ten minutes to spare.
Consort chief executive Jo Buckley told the Daily Record: “Because work is so precious at the moment, I didn’t want the quarantine rules getting in the way of anyone who has work coming up in the next two weeks, as they are all freelancers.
“We went through all the options, flights, ferries, a hovercraft and even spoke to a company that charters private jets who wanted to charge 30 grand.”
Jo found managed to get in touch with Glen Cairns of Valkyrie Charters, who was able to provide a boat.
Straight after the concert which took place in Lessay, the consort got on a coach where they travelled to meet Glen at the Port.
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Jo added: "Eight members then came back by sea, with the crossing taking about five hours between Cherbourg and Hayling Island.
“It was a very calm crossing, there was no wind, rain and we all had a snooze and a glass of wine.
“We only got back at 10 minutes to four, so we only just made it in time.
"We’re so grateful to Glen and his company. Everyone is just totally relieved to be back.”
