A regional daily was forced to issue a public denial after a Twitter user falsely claimed to be a journalist for the newspaper.

The Star, Sheffield, posted a clarification on its official Twitter account after a person on the social networking website going by the name ‘Greg Bryan’ claimed to be working as a multimedia sports journalist for the paper.

The profile, run under the handle ‘@GregBryanStar’, had been active since the start of this month and had largely been tweeting transfer rumours and news related to Sheffield United Football Club.

However, it was deleted on Tuesday after The Star threatened to take action over the account.

A screenshot of the ‘Greg Bryan’ account shortly before it was deleted

The account was brought to the attention of Darren Burke, a digital journalist for The Star and Doncaster Free Press, who was contacted by a Sheffield United supporter about it.

He posted: “In response to the Sheffield United fan who contacted me @GregBryanStar is not connected with the Sheffield Star.”

The newspaper’s official account later messaged ‘Greg’ via Twitter saying: “If you do not desist from impersonating a Sheffield Star reporter in the next 24 hours we will take further action.”

The Star later published a public denial on its page, viewable to all readers, stating: “We are aware that @GregBryanStar is claiming to be a Sheffield Star reporter. He is not.”

On his profile, ‘Greg’ claimed to be originally from Cumbria, a supporter of Carlisle United Football Club and a fan of Bruce Springsteen.