An Otley tobacconist fixed it for football fans to celebrate Leeds United's famous win over Arsenal in true Sir Jimmy Savile style.

James Barber, owner of Barber's Wholesale Tobacconists, on Kirk-gate, had a run on Sir Jimmy cigars after Leeds United fans chose to dress-up as the veteran fundraiser for Sunday's trip to the former Premier-ship champions, which Leeds won 3-2 to stave off relegation.

It is an annual tradition for Leeds supporters to have a fancy dress theme day at the last away game and this year they decided to be Sir Jimmy Savile lookalikes.

Mr Barber said he had sold quite a lot of big cigars to fans and he contacted Sir Jimmy to tell him about their plan.

"I sold quite a lot of cigars, they were not the Cuban ones Jimmy usually buys, they mainly bought the biggest and cheapest ones," he said.

"I think it was mainly local Leeds fans who came to buy them because they knew of his connections with the shop.

"I rang Jimmy and gave him the phone number of one of the fans, Scotty, and he gave them a ring to wish them luck.

"He had a joke with them pretending he was from Scotland Yard and had heard that a large group of Jimmy Saviles had been spotted causing trouble.

"It was good for business and a good laugh. Jimmy was flattered they chose to dress like him, he said that if I had contacted him earlier he would have waved them off or joined them."

Barbers was the ideal choice for fans to buy their replica cigars because it has been used by Sir Jimmy to buy his Cuban Bolivar cigars for more than ten years.

Leeds fan Scotty, from Otley, bought his cigar from Barber's and after speaking with Mr Barber had his details past on to Sir Jimmy.

"Sir Jimmy called me twice, once before the match to wish us luck and then after the match to congratulate us," said Scotty, who would not give his full name. "I had spoken to James and he said he knew Sir Jimmy and would tell him what we were planning. I only half expected a call but when he rang I couldn't believe it.

"It was a total surprise for the other lads because they didn't know about his connection with Otley. It was great of him to call us.

"We always dress-up for the last away game and this year someone decided we would go as Jimmy Savile. I went down with a coach load of lads from Wharfedale and Horsforth.

"Jimmy calling us just topped our day. Winning the game was like winning the League to us.

"Even the Arsenal fans cheered our lads off the pitch and when Jimmy called it was fantastic."

On Sunday, the Leeds end at Highbury was filled with chants of 'there's only one Jimmy Savile' and 'now then, now then', from fans dressed in tracksuits, blond wigs and chunky gold jewellery waving Barber's big fat cigars.

Last year fans dressed up as Elvis.

l How's about that then? An Otley Leeds United fan known simply as Scotty gets all dressed up for the Arsenal game - with the blessing of Sir Jimmy himself.