An international youth conference turned into a James Bond-style scenario for a city councillor and a youth worker who were arrested and grilled by the Russian authorities.

Former Lord Mayor of Canterbury Martin Vye and Jason Robinson, 21, fell foul of tough new visa rules while on an official visit to Vladimir.

They were taken to a deserted warehouse-type building where they faced three hours of questioning.

It happened while the pair were attending an international youth conference in the town which has cultural exchange links with Canterbury.

Cllr Vye said: “I was arrested on the steps of the building after giving a talk and Jason while he was on a coach trip to a UNESCO site with other young people.

“I speak fluent Russian but it was still alarming and I was concerned for Jason who wouldn’t understand what was going on.

“Immigration officers said the orders had come from Moscow, no doubt prompted by the increased tensions between the West and Russia.”

Jason, 21, who works at Whitstable Youth Centre, said: “They frogmarched me off the coach and drove me around at high speed, eventually taking me to a big, concrete, dirty-looking building where I was questioned.

“Looking back on it, it was like something out of a James Bond film but I guess quite an adventure and it hasn’t put me off going back.”

The pair were eventually each fined 2,500 roubles - about £55 - and issued with temporary visas for the rest of their six-day stay.

•Read Jason’s full account of his ordeal in this week’s Whitstable Gazette, out on Thursday.