Shopkeepers have rallied to the defence of a fellow trader who has been criticised for rudeness.

They say Haworth businessman Matthew Batemen, who hit the headlines in 1995, is being unjustly pilloried as rude and unhelpful.

Mr Batemen featured in the Telegraph & Argus in September, 1995 after a customer was ejected from his Haworth Handloom Weavers shop for whistling. It was reported that visitors regularly complained about his attitude.

The ejected shopper, Ivor Williams, of Manchester, said he would never visit Haworth again because of his treatment at the hands of Mr Bateman.

Now, following fresh reports of rude behaviour by Mr Bateman, shopkeepers have rallied to his defence.

Shopkeepers in the tourist trap village say his old fashioned standards are being wrongly pilloried and that he is a valued member of the community.

Andrea Earnshaw who runs Dance Lines in the village said: "Matthew is a loveable Teddy Boy. People should leave him alone.

"People should see Matthew's good side. He is kind hearted and helpful."

And Haworth sub-post master Jack Law has also come to Mr Bateman's defence. He said: "There is nothing wrong with Matthew.

"He basically follows old fashioned standards which many people these days don't like. Matthew's of the old school and thinks rules should be obeyed."

Mr Bateman, who has been in business in Haworth for 32 years, said: "I'm not happy. I've had enough of this. I have run a shop all these years - would I have been able to do that if I was so bad?"

He said he tried to be helpful to his neighbours only the other day taking in parcels for the nearby Tourist Information shop and helping with some building work being done by a neighbour.

This year a Shop Watch was set up in the village to help shopkeepers combat crime and Mr Bateman is a keen member of the organisation.

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