Simon Danczuk 'disturbed' at Lib Dems taking photos outside school

Lib Dem activist David Clayton outside Sacred Heart school on Thursday

A row has broken out between Simon Danczuk and his Liberal Democrat opponent in the forthcoming General Election, Andy Kelly, after the Lib Dems took photos outside Mr Danczuk's children's school.

Three men were spotted on Thursday (13 November) taking photos outside Sacred Heart school and it is understood they were challenged about their activities - it transpired the three men were Lib Dem candidate, Mr Kelly and two Lib Dem activists, John Swarbrick and David Clayton.

In a social media post Mr Swarbrick admits Mrs Danczuk, a Kingsway ward councillor, is the subject of one of their photos.

Mr Danczuk says this disturbs him: "I am very disturbed that Rochdale Lib Dems are attempting to take photos of my wife and children at school. Only they can explain something that appears so sinister.

"I would like an apology from Andy Kelly and an assurance that this sort of behaviour is not going to continue."

The Lib Dems say they were simply taking photos of double parked cars in an attempt to highlight parking issues outside the school.

Mr Clayton said: “After completing a local survey we tried to get some photographs of the problem to send to the authorities. I did try to speak to some of the parents, most of whom were supportive when we spoke to them but one of the guilty parents, who had parked right up on the pavement, got really abusive and angry that we were taking pictures of the wrong-doers.

“All we are trying to do was make the area safer for children and parents to walk without having to move out into the middle of the road into oncoming traffic."

Mr Kelly added: "We informed the school of what we were doing."

Mr Danczuk says the school was only informed after the event.

He added: "The Lib Dems should know better than to be taking photos outside a school."