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As a giant turf rug was being laid out on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a mass Sunday breakfast picnic, one motorist ignored the closure of the iconic landmark and sparked a police chase.
Work had begun at 1am (AEDT) and was in full swing by 3am when a male driver ignored closure signs and crossed the bridge, leading officers on a chase through the city before he was stopped in Surry Hills, police said.
An RTA spokesmen said he was unsure how much of the 10,000 square metres of grass had been laid when the car was driven onto the bridge but he said the process of putting down the turf had certainly started.
Police said they chased the car part of the way across the bridge before terminating the pursuit which was picked up by another patrol about 10 minutes later.
NSW Premier Nathan Rees labelled the driver an idiot.
'Some idiots wanted to do burn-outs on the grass, and it's the subject of a police investigation now,' he said.
No one was injured but a police vehicle was damaged when it struck a barricade on a city street, police said.
A 25-year-old man and a 27-year-old female passenger were arrested and a dog, which was with them, was taken to a vet.
The woman was later released but the man, who was from Sans Souci in Sydney's south, was charged with dangerous driving and speeding and was refused bail.
At a cost of $1 million, Sunday's inaugural breakfast on the bridge for 6,000 picnickers was the marquee event for Crave Sydney, a month-long festival showcasing the city's entertainment, food and art.
