THE Citizen can reveal that the Lancaster punk band which has attracted national and international media attention with their controversial name is a hoax.

Last week, posters advertising a single by a new local punk band called the 'Dead Dianas' were flyposted around the city provoking outrage from local politicians.

The band were featured in newspapers, national radio and even offered television interviews on German TV.

But a Citizen investigation has revealed that the band is a hoax set up by a radical Lancaster group.

John Constantine, who was widely reported as the band's drummer, admitted that no such band or single existed.

He said: "We did it to expose the hypocrisy surrounding the death of Diana. There is no band but from just a few posters and leaflets we've been on radio, in a couple of national newspapers, in loads of papers across Europe, received inquiries from record companies and have even been interviewed for German TV and American radio.

"We've been accused of bad taste but the media were scrambling for the story and the politicians couldn't help but jump on the bandwagon.

"One local politician accused us of exploiting her name but how many, pretending to admire her, have used her death to make money, score political points or sell newspapers? The hypocrisy is disgusting and I think our hoax has shown this."

Local politicians who were drawn into the outrage included Lancaster MP, Hilton Dawson, and Council Leader, Stanley Henig.

When informed about the 'hoax' Hilton Dawson said: "I think it's grossly offensive to public taste whether the story is true or untrue."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.