A PREACHER who launched into a rant after he was kept waiting at a petrol station has apologised for his actions.

Assemblies of God minister Malcolm Macpherson flew off the handle when a member of staff at a busy filling station in Dumfries was slow to activate a pump.

After complaining to the girl, he jumped into his van – emblazoned with a Bible verse – and sped off to another filling station.

But he was given fuel for thought when a motorist who witnessed his rant at St Michael’s Services followed him and gave him a dressing-down.

Yesterday, Mr Macpherson, of Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, made a public apology.

He said: “Last Friday, I found myself at the filling station on the roundabout near Dumfries Infirmary for diesel for my van, which is a rather loud and obvious Christian vehicle. The station was quite busy and I waited for the pump to activate and, when it didn’t, I went in and asked the young girl attending to activate it.

“Returning to my car, I waited again. Agitated, I drove off to another station up the road.

“There, a car pulled up alongside, the window opened and a man rebuked me for my attitude.

“My immediate reaction was to defend myself. He made a comment about my faith and drove off.

“I later realised this man was right and I want to apologise to the girl, who was just trying to do her job at a busy time, as well as thank the gentleman who took the time to follow and chastise me.”

Mr Macpherson, who heads Christian revival mission Harvest Scotland, added: “We all make mistakes and human nature often takes over in certain circumstances.

“But that’s no excuse for rudeness and, more importantly for me, giving a bad impression to others about who Jesus is and how He can change our lives.”