A pug Boston terrier cross rescued from the New York Bronx is leading a campaign with his owner to fight against a new school in Batford.

Marley and his owner Charlotte Vickerstaff have been handing out homemade leaflets to ensure residents are aware of the plans, which she says would see valuable Green Belt given away and roads oversaturated with traffic.

Charlotte said her precious pooch loves the freedom of running through the beautiful open countryside around Harpenden and represents how lucky people are to have access to this “wonderful resource”.

“The more I heard about it, the more I became outraged at the handling of the whole matter by Herts County Council and the Conservatives. It is disgraceful, for example, that a public exhibition was not held in Batford.

“The thrust of my campaign is that people need to be aware of the abuse of the democratic process that is currently going on with this proposal, and ask for a proper consultation period with independent research to be carried out.”

She said people have been happy to stop and listen to her and Marley: “People love him! He has looks only a mother could love, but it makes him endearing.

“Builders particularly love him, although he does have a penchant for eating their sandwiches off the front seat of their vans!”