POLICE are probing allegations that members of the Gypsy community have threatened to attack shops displaying a petition against a proposed Traveller site.

Saughall residents are fighting Cheshire West and Chester Council’s plans for a Gypsy and Traveller site on Green Belt land at the council-owned Oakwood Farm in Parkgate Road.

But in a worrying development a worker at the Co-op and post office in Church Road, Saughall, was left shaken after a woman allegedly defaced a petition in the store then threatened to burn the place down.

Staff at the Red Ensign garage, Parkgate Road, Saughall, also called the police after a long-standing customer, who apparently calls himself a Gypsy, is alleged to have taken offence at the petition on the counter and allegedly made verbal threats the kiosk would be ‘trashed’.

PC Shelley Williams of Cheshire police said: “Police were informed of an incident that took place at a shop on Church Road in Saughall at around 7.20pm on September 24 whereby a woman, believed but unconfirmed to be a member of the local Gypsy/Traveller community, defaced a petition in the shop and made veiled threats to staff members.

“Police attended and spoke with the staff members concerned and an assessment was carried out regarding any risk to the shop or to its employees.

“Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team continue to monitor the situation and Cheshire Police’s Gypsy Traveller Liaison officers have spoken with the local travelling community.”

Keen to be even-handed, PC Williams warned that placards erected by protesters in the neighbourhood were being monitored and any signs or slogans ‘perceived to be offensive or racist’ would be dealt with ‘appropriately and proportionately’.