Women's Institute protestors bombarded ITV bosses with jars of jam after the channel decided to axe the popular Sunday night drama Home Fires.

'Hundreds' of jars have reported to have been sent to the London offices of Kevin Lygo, Director of Television, and ITV Chairman Adam Crozier following plans to scrap the wartime drama which was filmed in and around Bunbury and Chester after two series.

As well as the jam protest, a petition urging ITV to rethink their decision, has now been signed by more than 20,000 members.

The channel announced plans to axe the series, which had an audience of up to six million, two weeks ago, saying it was 'refreshing its portfolio'.

The news has left fans of the show devastated, with many branding the decision 'a huge mistake'.

And bosses came under controversy this week when petition organiser Kerryn Groves, of East Sussex, a wheelchair user, asked to hand over the petition personally to Adam Crozier, but his PA declined to come and collect it.

She tweeted her disappointment that she had to leave it at ITV headquarters' delivery point instead.

ITV later apologised to Kerryn on Twitter and confirmed they had received the petition.

You can sign the petition here