Herald columnist Harty has been reinstated to his BBC Southern Counties football phone-in show after a month off-air following his suspension for comments considered offensive to disabled people.

Hart was suspended in mid-October after telling football fans "you would be better served licking a window" in remarks made on air at half-time during a Brighton and Hove Albion football match.

He apologised immediately, and three times in total, when he returned to the airwaves for the post-match phone-in, but was suspended with co-host Andrew Hawes, who had also made a reference to "window-lickers", a derogatory term for disabled people.

The suspension provoked a backlash against the BBC in favour of Ian, with charities and disabled groups queuing up to speak out on his behalf.

Ian refused to comment on his reinstatement, but a source close to him said he had been "overwhelmed" by the support he had received, something he had told friends he "never, ever forget".

Full story in the Worthing Herald on Thursday, November 20.

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