THERE were scenes of anger at Little Venice on the Grand Union Canal when a film crew took the towpath over stopping residents and boaters alike.
The making of the new film of Paddington Bear caused great disruption, with residents complaining of 'heavies' in bomber jackets barring the way of everybody whilst filming was taking place, Roger Fox tells us.
Stopped from using the towpath
It was not only whilst the actual filming was taking place, but during its preparation, residents of nearby houses and boaters wanting access to their boats were all stopped from using the towpath.
One resident complained that elderly residents were prevented from returning to their homes and made to wait shivering in the cold, whilst the crew was 'messing about'.
Stalking around
It was not done in an amicable manner, with a resident telling that 'heavies' were stalking around with the air of an armed militia, stopping everybody going home at rush time, many after a long day at work, some making a 15 minutes detour.
At one time even then those waiting were told to 'get down, get down, we're panning' expecting the people to lie down on the ground, but nobody would. Another resident said she had left her flat to go to the Tube when a young woman came up gesticulating.