LIVERPOOL'S Love Activists have taken over the former Mello Mello building in Slater Street.

The move came hours after the group issued an unreserved apology to the mother of James Bulger, Denise Fergus, who is said to have been left traumatised when members of the group invaded a business dinner and charity auction hosted by the Mayor at the weekend.

According to the activists, they decided, at the last minute, to take part in a planned protest by a small group of Liverpool hackney cab drivers going under the "Joe Must Go" banner.

The aim of the event, at the Titanic Hotel, was to raise cash for Joe Anderson's mayoral campaign with the James Bulger Memorial Fund this year's nominated auction charity.

But spokesman Juliet Edgar, pictured above, spoke to Liverpool Confidential at the former cafe bar which closed last October. She said the Love Activists “would never have gone near the event”, had they known it had anything to do with James or his family.

She also categorically denied reports that members had used a placard bearing an image of the murdered toddler as a battering ram to gain entry into the £45-a-head event.

Nevertheless, reports have sparked a social media backlash against the group who, in April, began a three week occupation of the Bank of England building on Castle Street with Mayor Anderson calling for their arrest.

We made a mistake, but why is it that nobody has mentioned the hackney cab drivers who instigated this and were just as involved in the events of Friday?

“We had been getting a lot of withheld number calls from hackney drivers," she said. "They sent us the info about Friday's mayoral dinner posted on eventbrite which, as far as we could see, made no mention of the James Bulger charity.  They wanted us to go along to help them make up the numbers for their protest. But we hadn't said either way if we would take part.

“Then on Friday evening, three black hackney cabs turned up at our new camp outside the Echo Arena. They were inviting us to get in and go down to the Titanic Hotel. It was a spur of the moment thing. There were about 12 of us and we got there just as Mayor Joe Anderson was starting his speech. We were met by their 'Joe Must Go' van.”

She went on:  "I will admit we had intended to cause disruption because Joe Anderson had refused our demands for a meeting but we weren't the only ones. We made a mistake, but why is it that nobody has mentioned the hackney cab drivers who instigated this and were just as involved in the events of Friday?"

Cab drivers have neither confirmed or denied involvement in Friday's events although the twitter feed of Joe Must Go Now account has since fallen silent. They are opposing a decision that allows Sefton firm Delta taxis to operate in the city.

She added:  "We were met by security staff and Labour Party members who were extremely aggressive. There were women in our group. I got dragged across the floor, someone else had a tooth broken.

“The Love Activists did not damage any banners or posters or any part of the building. We did not see a single banner or poster with James's face on. Nevertheless, for our part, we apologise wholeheartedly to Denise Fergus and the James Bulger Memorial Fund."

Mayor Joe Anderson made no mention of the cab drivers or their alleged involvement in an interview with Radio Roger on Monday.

When asked if he was surprised the Love Activists hadn't been arrested, he replied: "The police are finding it really tough because of course it is finding evidence. I am aware that the police are looking at the CCTV footage, interviewing the hotel staff and other people who were at the event, So hopefully they will come up with a clear picture of what went on, despite their ridiculous claims that they were assaulted by people. The fact of the matter is it was a private function and they tried to force their way in. In my view that's criminal behaviour...and hopefully arrests will be made."

Meanwhile, at Mello Mello, which closed last September, Ms Edgar said: "We want a buiding where we can continue our work with the homeless people of Liverpool, and our protests will continue until the Mayor agrees to talks."

The Mello Mello building, empty for the past eight months, was bought by Rose Ten Ltd, whose directors operate a number of bars in London. The four storey warehouse had been turned into a virtual fortress by its former occupants after a number of break-ins.

Now the lights are on behind metal shutters and the strains of the bar-room piano, playing Beethoven's Fleur de Lis, could be heard today from behind a chained up door which bears a "Legal Warning" from the anarchists.

Despite the solid roof, tents donated to the activists during their recent camp out, have been re-erected throughout the building.

"We have a lot of people who had no homes or possessions until now," said Ms Edgar. "Their occupants regard these tents as home."