A free newspaper in the West Midlands has issued an online apology after publishing an “entirely erroneous” story on the front of its latest print edition.

The Stratford Observer published a story about a tribute to a local man named Harry Broadhurst who was killed last month, referring to him as a “troubled youngster.”

In fact the tribute had related to another man named Harry who came from the same area.   Harry Broadhurst was actually a successful company director.

The Bullivant Media-owned title issued a full apology on its website as soon as the error came to light on Friday.

It reads:  “Today’s front page of the Observer featured a story paying tribute to Henley man Harry Broadhurst who was killed on November 20.

“We have since found out this story was entirely erroneous as the tributes paid by Peter Crathorne had actually referred to another young Henley man, also called Harry, who died recently.

“We would like to make it clear Mr Broadhurst was not a troubled youngster at all, he was in fact a very successful director of his own company.

“We would also like to make a full apology to Mr Broadhurst’s family and friends, as well as Mr Crathorne, for this error and any distress caused. A full correction and apology will appear in next week’s edition.”

Bizarrely it is the second major press howler to occur in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in recent years.

In February 2010, the rival Stratford Herald published an article about a local music venue, Cox’s Yard, headlined “Cox’s grovelling up their bottoms article.”

The paper apologised the following week, blaming the gaffe on “a particularly vindictive gremlin.”