Despite the irony of the Edinburgh ban, public pipe playing is not generally banned in the UK.

Many places do, however, have local noise regulations and the police do have to respond to noise complaints.

If it was daytime the noise would carry less but one set of pipes can still carry even above the traffic noise.

Bridport is in Dorset and was most famous for its "neckties" which were not your usual kind - most people would not want one as these were hangmen's ropes!

The report does not make clear whether or not any compromise was discussed. If the guy simply carried on as a simple refusal and defiance then it's hardly surprising the police acted as they did - but they would still have had to give some legal justification for the arrest (however tenuous) to cover themselves or he could have a case for wrongful arrest.

Also if he was busking for money could be a factor when it comes to local byelaws.

I would hate to think it was all caused by prejudice against bagpipes!

But several times I have suffered a police helicopter flying low at 1 and 2 am round and round above my town - they do not seem to worry about the noise then!