A national newspaper is donating £500 to the Mayor of Dover’s charity fund following the way it reported the bogus Francis Rossi story.

Town clerk Mike Webb revealed that a deal had been agreed, through the Press Complaints Commission, with the managing editor of The Sun newspaper.

Referring to the “fair and accurate” reporting of the issue in the Mercury, Mr Webb said he was still pursuing further complaints through the PCC is respect of other national newspapers.

The story concerned a man who claimed to be the lead singer of Status Quo and attended Dover Carnival two years ago, at the invitation of former town councillor Vic Matcham.

The Mercury subsquently revealed him to be Graham Tumber, from St Margaret’s.

When the story made the national press, there were claims that Mr Tumber had been “wined and dined”, treated like royalty, and driven around in the council’s “limousines”.

Mr Webb, together with Miss Dover Loren Selby and Junior Miss Dover Jordan Sehmbi, met the real Francis Rossi at a Status Quo concert at Wembley Arena earlier this month.

Mr Webb said this week that as part of the deal agreed with The Sun, a letter was published making it clear that the town council had not spent any money on this, no council decision had been made as the council was not involved, and there was no unauthorised use of the Mayoral car.

“In addition to the above, the Sun will be donating £500 to the Mayor’s Goodwill Fund for local charities and good causes, has withdrawn all reference to the phoney Francis Rossi story from its website, and has offered to improve relations with Dover Town Council,” said Mr Webb.