A reporter at the Selby Post has resigned after what he claims was a subbing error that saw his own father pictured as a drug dealer in his outspoken column.

Former News of the World reporter Andy Germaine said he had to apologise to his dad in the same column a week later.

He is considering legal action against the paper for this and a previous alleged incident where he claims a head and shoulders picture of him was used to illustrate a story about a reward being offered for a mean-spirited thief.

A spokesman for the newspaper confirmed Andy had left his employment there but could not confirm the incidents in question.

Andy said: “I’ve been around a bit and have worked for quite a few papers including the News of the World, and I sometimes recalled my adventures in journalism in a Selby Post column called Sideways Look.”

He took the opportunity to recall the adventure of a gay fish and chip shop – and supplied the pictures to illustrate it.

He said: “Somehow they managed to mix up the picture of the drug dealer with one of my dad and I ended up having to apologise to him in my own column a week later.”