GRAYS primary school has revoked its invitation to MP Jackie Doyle-Price to open its summer fete this week following concerns of an “incident” over the Thames Crossing row.

Head teacher of St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School Chris Birtle wrote to Ms Doyle-Price last week to say he would be “devastated should an incident cause upset or embarrassment to yourself or the school community and so on this occasion I would ask that you do not come along to support our fete”.

Mr Birtle explained in his July 8 letter that the Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) had raised concerns of an “unwanted scene.”

According to the head, parents raised concerns after MP Jackie Doyle-Price made a Facebook post on July 4 which was shared with the Thames Crossing Proposals group.

Mr Birtle said: “Apparently, a post that you made on Facebook on Monday evening generated a great deal of opposition and anger amongst some members of the local community, which the PTA members felt could escalate into an unwanted scene occurring at the fete, should members of the public opposed to your views attempt to confront you over this issue.

“The PTA informed me they wanted to avoid any possible unsavoury incidents occurring that could upset you or the young and impressionable pupils who will be present.

“Of course, nothing may come of this at all but they remain concerned, given the strength of feeling they observed.

Ms Doyle-Price said that it was a “sad day for democracy”.

“In 21st century Great Britain, people should be able to respect differences of opinion. Sadly the behaviour of some members of the Thames Crossing action group has fallen well short of good behaviour,” she said.

“All I did last week was ask the council to confirm that it remained opposed to option A. The angry response that provoked led the head teacher to be fear - ful of some unpleasantness at the fete.

“The group need to ask themselves why the head reached this view. It is a sad day for democracy in this country when a democratically elected member of parliament is prevented from going about their constituency duties because of the aggressive behaviour of some members of this group.”

George Abbott, spokes - man for the Thames Crossing Proposals Facebook group, which is composed of 9,000 members, said the group was “peaceful” and he was “happy to investigate any aggressive behaviour” in the group.

Mr Abbott, 33, of Woolings Close, Orsett, said: “We are a peaceful group run by the people for the people. My understanding is this is in relation to combustible comments made by Jackie herself on her own Facebook page, not ours.

“I would happily investigate any aggressive behaviour by members of our group if presented with the detail.

“To date nothing has been sent to me, so I fervently disagree with Jackie’s opinion of our group.

“Ms Doyle-Price has her view and whilst we disagree she’s entitled to it like we are to ours.”