Three New York police officers came to the rescue of a group of stranded Downing Street aides after their bus broke down.

The cops were rewarded with a photo alongside the prime minister on her official jet.

A bus carrying 11 of Theresa May's top team broke down in the fast lane of the highway as her official motorcade sped towards the airport after leaving the UN General Assembly in New York.

As Mrs May took her seat in the front cabin of her Royal Air Force jet, chief of staff Gavin Barwell tweeted "#whereistricky #wheelsupsoon", a reference to Mrs May's trusted personal logistics guru Richard "Tricky" Jackson.

Image: Richard 'Tricky' Jackson called the incident a 'bit of an adventure'

According to one senior adviser on the bus on Wednesday night, the NYPD officers spotted the stranded group by chance and waited with them while a replacement vehicle arrived.


The surprised officers then "blue-lighted" the Number 10 officials at high speed through traffic to the VIP terminal of

JFK International Airport.

As the flustered aides made their way up the steps of the plane 45 minutes behind schedule, the prime minister came out to thank the police officers and posed with them for a photo.

Richard Jackson described the incident as a "bit of an adventure" and praised the "men from the NYPD" for coming to the rescue.

A Downing Street source said: "New York's finest rescued the PM's team from the side of the freeway and got us to the runway for the flight home.

"Just another way to deepen the special relationship, and we're very grateful for their help."