Apology over Facebook outburst after councillor suffers a soaking

"I accept my Facebook response was inappropriate but I was both upset and angry," said Wyre Forest Councillor Fran Oborski MBE.

The apology comes after she vented her anger on social media after a rain-filled shop canopy at Ginger's Cafe in Stourport left her soaked.

She described the cafe the town's most 'inconsiderate' business and ended her post on the 'We Love Stourport-on-Severn Past and Present' community page by resolving never to visit.

The cafe's offence had been to lower the rain-filled canopy as councillor Oborski walked past on the day of her 70th birthday party, allegedly covering her in a 'gallon' of water.

The matter ended up this week with councillors at Wyre Forest District Council meeting to discuss her conduct following two complaints to the authority.

After around 30 minutes' deliberation the Ethics and Standards Committee unanimously agreed her language fell below accepted standards and that she be asked to attend reputational training on the use of language within social media.

The committee also invited councillor Oborski to make a donation to the chairman's charity.

At the hearing, a two-sided letter was given on behalf of the councillor which included an apology.

She said: "I accept that in making the comments on Facebook I acted intemperately and inappropriately and for that I apologise profoundly."

Several users on Facebook mocked the incident, which she said left her 'extremely' upset.

There also followed an apology posted by cafe manager Jason Smart.

He said: "Unfortunately she walked around the corner as the canopy was taken down by my partner, it wasn't done intentionally.

"The canopy is very heavy when full of water and once you start to release it you can't stop it. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused."

The council's social media rules say members should show respect for others and not use social media to be rude or disrespectful.