POLICE last night apologised for pulling a boy out of a school lesson and questioning him about a planned protest without his parents being there.

Nicky Wishart, 12, above, was questioned by a police officer after he set up a group on the website Facebook to save the youth centre in Eynsham, which could be axed as part of county council spending cuts.

Young campaigners staged a protest outside Prime Minister David Cameron’s constituency office in Witney on Friday.

A police officer spoke to Nicky about the campaign at Bartholomew School, in Eynsham.

The incident provoked an angry response from his mother.

Police said yesterday they should not have questioned him when a parent was not present, even though a member of school staff was in the meeting.

Chief Inspector Jack Malhi, the police commander for West Oxfordshire, said: “With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been far more appropriate to have made the inquiries from Nicky in the presence of his mother.

“I deeply regret and apologise for the impact that it might have had on Nicky and his family.”

He added: “The purpose of the visit was to support Nicky in his objective, but at the same time try to ensure his safety and the safety of those at the protest.”

Mr Malhi has telephoned Nicky’s mother, Virginia Phelps, 41, to apologise personally.

Ms Phelps said: “Last week I was absolutely raging.

“I was very, very angry about the police speaking to Nicky without me being there.

“But I’m pleased that they have contacted me to apologise.”