Oh Nay, Oh Nay, Oh Nay! Town crier Kevin Griffiths is distraught after being stripped of his title by Skipton town council – but has vowed to beat its gagging order.

Town bosses revoked the honorary position after a stream of complaints over Mr Griffiths’s activities while acting as Skipton’s official crier.

But Mr Griffiths, 58, who also acts as Bradford’s crier, said he would fight for his right to shout the town streets. “I’ve been on the edge of bursting into tears about it since I heard their decision. It’s heartbreaking.

“If necessary, I will act as an independent crier and will fight for my rights in court,” declared a defiant Mr Griffiths, the current national champion crier who was to defend his title in Hastings in two weeks’ time. But without the town’s backing he cannot afford the trip.

He claimed there was a vendetta against him because some occasional work as a “crier for hire” had upset some councillors.

A town council spokesman said: “The council has received numerous complaints relating to activities undertaken by Mr Griffiths.”