Disgruntled fans of the Evening Press's Turpin Rides Again columnist have urged him to "stand and deliver".

A group of protesters besieged our newspaper offices in Walmgate, York, to complain about the demise of the popular tongue-in-cheek Saturday feature.

The shadowy Turpin recently hung up his pistols after four years entertaining readers with scurrilous anecdotes of York life.

Holding a Save Dick Turpin placard, Helen Douglas, of York Dungeon, said: "York wants him back. The dungeon misses him and the community needs him. He's just fantastic."

Turpin said he had received dozens of letters, emails and phone calls since quitting the column last week.

He said: "If these people had been around when I was hanged at Tyburn in 1739 I might have spent longer in the saddle."

York & County Press publisher Liz Page said: "Turpin has decided that after four years riding the highways he's tired. He's decided to go straight."

Updated: 09:17 Friday, June 06, 2003