Town hall lifts ban on battling grannie

But she says she felt intimidated when police called at her Cavour Street home to get an assurance about her future conduct.

Mrs Hanna was banned from Burnley Town Hall after throwing a fistful of pennies at councillors in protest at a decision not to carry out improvements in the Stoneyholme area of town.

The ban was lifted by the policy and resources committee last night.

Earlier in the afternoon two police officers visited Mrs Hanna's home. She said: "The council sent them to my home to wring an apology from me.

"They were really nice, real gentlemen, and I have no quarrel with them.

"But I felt intimated. I could imagine all my neighbours looking out of their windows rubber-necking as though I was a drugs dealer or something.

"What do the council think I am, a member of the IRA? I am just a senior citizen, a frail elderly lady.''

Mrs Hanna said she had not apologised, but had signed a statement saying that in future she would act in a proper manner.''

She added: "I can imagine them waving the paper like Chamberlain and declaring peace in our time.''

She added: "They cannot ban me from the Town Hall.

"It is owned by the people for the people and, whatever the outcome of the committee discussions, I intend to be at there for next week's full meeting of the council.''

At the meeting, Coun Harry Brooks complained that Mrs Hanna was in some ways a victim and had been dealt with in an entirely different way to poll tax protesters, who had aimed a punch at councillors.

He alleged they had not been banned because they were working hand in glove with Labour councillors.

Coun Edward Fisk, chairman of the general purposes committee, said he had given officers the go-ahead to refuse Mrs Hanna entrance to the town hall.

The committee agreed to give Mrs Hanna a second chance noting her undertaking to act in an appropriate manner in the future.

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