TWO musical trade unionists have recorded a song in honour of South Yorkshire’s Freedom Riders.

Freedom Ride — The Ballad of George and Tony honours two protesters — George Arthur and Tony Nuttall — who were roughly arrested at Sheffield station in June.

They were due to appear before magistrates for obstruction and fare-dodging as part of the Freedom Riders campaign but prosecutors dropped the charges.

The song was penned by Lee Short, a lecturer and University and College Union (UCU) official at Barnsley College, and firefighter Adam Myers.

Mr Arthur said: “Already the song has been picked up by campaigners in other parts of the country. I am particularly impressed with the YouTube video created by supporters in Bristol.

“That shows how people around the country are looking to learn from each other and to fight for better public services for all.”

Launched in March, the Freedom Riders campaign saw dozens board trains and refuse to pay in protest at the axing of free travel for pensioners because of government cuts.

Mr Arthur’s strong-armed arrest was caught on film.

Mr Short said: “The video on YouTube of Tony being arrested is horrific and some might ask why we think it is a topic for humour.

“But I would argue that there is something inherently absurd about five transport police officers wrestling an old man to the ground, for refusing to pay his train fare.

“We are ridiculing the disproportionate response of the transport police and their justification for it.”