BOLTON West MP Chris Green has challenged Chorley Council over their attempt to “ban” football away fans from Chorley town centre.

The MP wrote to the council after a letter was sent by Cllr Danny Gee on behalf of the council’s town centre team to clubs saying that fans were “no longer welcome” for day-time matches.

The Lancashire town is a stop-off for fans travelling to games around the region, including Bolton Wanderers.

And Cllr Gee's decision to write the letter came after an incident in April when hundreds of “boisterous” Wolves fans descended on the town before an away game at the White’s stadium.

Cllr Gee later admitted the letter “could have been worded better”.

However, Mr Green warned that the decision to “ban” away fans from the town may affect its local economy.

He said: “Football clubs are already struggling to fill seats at games, and this ban will only deter away supporters for visiting Chorley and returning to town in the future.”

Chorley council have now apologised for “giving the impression” that fans were not welcome and said the vast majority are well behaved.

The statement said: “What we can’t have [...] is a situation where large groups of fans are gathering in pubs, spilling out onto the streets and intimidating, or being seen to be intimidating other people using the town centre.”