Landlord Is Branded 'Mr Misery'

A pub landlord dubbed "Mr Misery" by drinkers got his come-uppance when they swapped his car number plate to read "MI5ERY".

Ian Norris earned his nickname after complaining about a group who bought round of drinks and then held a meeting for too long in his bar.

Now he's got a "MI5ERY" number plate to match his mood after local garage bosses Paul Savage and Peter Wooster set him up.

Ian took his car to their garage and they delivered a Citroen AX courtesy car to his pub with the very special and apt number plate MI5ERY.

Failing to notice it,Ian got in the car and drove to a see a friend at a nearby pub, and after parking the Citroen he sat down for a drink.

But eagle-eyed punters who came into the pub were quick to point out the mischievous plate.

Ian said "Lots of people came into the pub and one said 'I suppose you have an appropriate number plate'.Another said 'you have always been a miserable bastard'.

"I didn't know what they were talking about but when I went outside,I saw they were taking the mick out of me.

"When I realised what was happening I took it as a joke.I'm convinced it was the barmaid here because she has since presented me with an identical number plate which is now behind the bar.

"We have had a good laugh about it since.I thought it was a nice joke."

Paul Savage said "We decided to do it because he is a miserable old git.

"He once chucked a load of people out of his pub for drinking a coke.We thought we would get our own back on him.It's about time he cheered up a bit."

Ian said "I run my pub as a business and if people want a place to hold a meeting they should hire out a room from the district council."