ANGRY Oswaldtwistle residents have hit back at the Lancashire author who has dubbed them 'gormless'.

And the local MP has warned Bob Dobson to stay away from the town - or risk a frosty reception. Greg Pope, said: "It's ridiculous that my constituents are being referred to as gormless - it's a terrible slur.

He added: "If I were Mr Dobson I wouldn't show my face in the town for a while."

Bob Dobson writes about Oswaldtwistle in his new quarterly magazine, Really Lancashire.

He states: "The inhabitants have the reputation of being "on the gormless side". For this reason they are known as "Gobbins" and the town as "Gobbinland". This is particularly so of those born "above t'lamp", which is a street lamp on Union Road near the library."

Local councillor and Civic Society president Bill Goldsmith said: "I can assure Mr Dobson that those of us who live in Oswaldtwistle are just as astute as everybody else.

"I think Mr Dobson should come to our town and meet its "gormless" residents - my neighbours, councillors Peter Britcliffe and Sheelagh Delaney, would love to have an intelligent conversation with him!" But Mr Dobson laughed off the criticisms. He said: "I didn't make it up - that's what a gobbin is.

"The same name is given to people of various towns and it's just a nickname.

"Some people might feel ill at ease with the label but others are proud to be a gobbin."

He added: "Those who have criticised what I have written must have a superiority complex!"

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