'Abusive' nun barred from flight

Sister Augustus claims she was treated "disgracefully"

A woman claiming to be a Franciscan nun has twice been barred from boarding a flight from Shetland to Aberdeen.

Sister Ruth Augustus said that British Airways would not allow her to fly because she was carrying a two foot statue of the Virgin Mary.

But BA said the nun, 64, was grounded because she was abusive to staff.

Sister Augustus has been travelling around Shetland for five days. The isles are the latest stop in her world tour to spread the Christian faith.

The nun now faces a choppy 12-hour journey by sea to Aberdeen.

Speaking about the incident, Sister Augustus told BBC Scotland: "When they said I couldn't take the statue on the plane I said I'm reporting you and it's disgraceful behaviour.

"I don't call that rude, I call it self-defence against a tremendous, unjust and cruel treatment which is disgraceful."