THE Mayor of Warrington Les Morgan has apologised after he was criticised for his actions while accepting a petition from a four-year-old boy.

Jill Osborne and her son Joey attended the Town Hall yesterday, Monday, to join the protest against the controversial local plan preferred development option (PDO) and proposed £195 million Western Link scheme.

After collecting more than 4,000 signatures on the 'Scrap the Preferred Development Option' petition, Jill and her son were tasked with delivering the documents to the council.

The mum and son were seen on footage captured by Warrington Worldwide walking up to the Mayor of Warrington to present the petition but the mayor does not appear to acknowledge the four-year-old or offer a 'warm welcome'.

In a statement to the Warrington Guardian, Jill said: "There was a great turnout to last night’s protest against Warrington Borough Council’s preferred development option (PDO) and the proposed Western Link scheme. 

"Members from many opposing parties throughout the town united to form an opposition front and I was proud to be a part of it.

"My four-year-old son played an active part in the protest.

"He presented the 38 Degrees petition to 'Scrap the Preferred Development Option' to the Mayor of Warrington. 

"With 4259 signatures it was a big job for a little boy. 

"The mayor was perhaps a little brusque in his manner on receipt of the petition. 

"He expressed that this was because of our lateness which was due to the traffic congestion through town yesterday evening. 

"There has been a mutual apology and the mayor has since invited my son to the Town Hall where he would like to meet him in a more friendly and relaxed atmosphere." 

But Cllr Morgan has since apologised for any offence caused on Monday evening when accepting the petition. 

He added: "I didn’t intend to cause offence, but I acknowledge that I could and should have handled the situation better. For that I apologise unreservedly.  

"I understand the level of feeling that exists within local communities and I would like to assure people that the council will continue to listen carefully to public feedback before any final decisions are made.”

Campaigners who are vowing to 'fight until the end' turned out in force for a protest at the Town Hall ahead of Monday's full council meeting.

Jill added: "Let’s not let this instance detract from the real objective of the protest.

"The reason that I wanted my son to be involved in this protest was to raise awareness of the PDO and the enormous effect that it will have on his generation. 

"I am hugely concerned, as every other parent should be about the poor air quality that we have at present in Warrington. 

"The council’s aspirations for mass growth will do nothing but increase the pollution over our town. 

"The damaging effects that this will have on our children’s future health and well-being is unthinkable. 

"The destruction of our green fields, green belt and woodland is an attack on our cultural heritage and will rob future generations of our beautiful landscape.

"The open spaces and natural habitats throughout the town should be preserved and enhanced for all of our children."