A well-spoken solicitor yesterday (Thurs) told how he has been mobbed in the street by England fans – because he is the

Which is which? (Roy on right)

spitting image of new boss ROY HODGSON.

Posh Neil Maybury, 58, bears an uncanny resemblance to the England boss – but could not sound more different.

While Roy is affectionately known as ‘Woy’ because of his difficulty pronouncing his r’s, public-school educated Neil admits fans are taken aback by his gold-plated accent.

Neil, a solicitor in intellectual property rights from Birmingham, has come face-to-face with Roy and is set to make a fotune from appearing as Roy’s official lookalike.

The father-of-four said: “I get stopped at least a couple of times a week but since Roy was made the England manager I get people coming up to me almost every day.

“I’ve been stopped at a cafe in Windermere, pubs in Lincolnshire and even in Majorca.

“It’s a real giggle.

“Even though I look like Roy, I don’t sound like him.

“Some people meet me and really think I am Roy – but then they hear me talk and realise I must be a lookalike.

“I have appeared as a Roy lookalike before but I have been warned that will probably increase now that he is England manager.”

Son Toby first noticed his dad shared the England manager’s distinctive owl-like looks after watching the future England boss interviewed on TV five years ago.

And he came face-to-face with the real Roy after bumping into him after a football match in 2009.

Neil added: “Toby and I were watching the football on TV when he said: ‘Dad, I’ve got to tell you, you bear a striking resemblance to Roy Hodgson’.

“Roy was manager of Fulham at the time and I was an Aston Villa fan and we finally met when they played in August 2009.

“It was extraordinary.

“The Fulham team were on their way out to go back on the coach and there was a seething throng of people.

“The door opened from the changing room and Roy immediately pointed his finger at me and smiled.

“We just chatted about the game, and I said ‘Roy, when you’re in the Midlands, I hope you don’t have the trouble I have when I’m in Fulham.’”

Neil was born in Birmingham and privately educated at #12,000-a-year King Edward’s School before studying law at the University of Birmingham.

He qualified as a solicitor in London with Clifford-Turner before returning to Birmingham as a partner with Pinsent & Co where he remained for 20 years.

Bizarrely, Neil and Roy share the same passions including tennis and opera.

On Neil’s personal website states he is patrol of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, chairman of the Spitfire Museum.

Neil, who is expert in protecting intellectual property, now charges #250 for appearances as Hodgson and another #500 to “say a few words”.
ENDS

The world’s smallest eco car is set to go on sale and at just a metre wide – it can even fit inside a LIFT.

With a top speed of just 30mph the electric car is not designed to fly down motorways but can instead squeeze into the smallest of gaps – including office elevators.

It means the commute to work can continue up to the office where the car can be charged at your DESK.

Standing at just 1.5m tall, the Volpe is the brainchild of Italian Romano Artioli, former owner of the famous Bugatti and Lotus brands.

The mini-motor, which can also squeeze in spaces left between two parked cars on a regular street, has been launched in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

Styled by Zagato, the coachbuilder responsible for limited edition versions of iconic Aston Martin cars, it is around half the width of the average car and just 2 metres long.

Isabella Artioli, vice president of Volpe, said: “Volpe is for every urban dweller desiring to move around town in style, independently, without losing time in traffic and to look for a parking space.

“Our founder, Romano Artioli, has long researched new types of clean engine solutions. In 2006.

“It is not only an idea, Volpe is a precious instrument in the service of who lives in the city. It is freedom of movement, without a need to compromise.”

The miniature motor is road legal as a ‘quadricycle’, meaning people as young as 16 can drive it with a motorcycle licence.

When it goes on sale it will cost EUR6,900 (about £5,600).

It will be launched across Europe in early 2013.

This is the moment when a photographer caught a vain blue tit appearing to admire his reflection – in a car WING MIRROR.

The amazing shot was captured by snapper Simon Litten, who has been plagued by the beaky pest for almost a month.

Just three days after Simon, 44, bought a new Suzuki Jimny, the barmy blue tit started relentlessly dive-bombing the 4×4′s driver-side mirror.

The problem became so bad that exasperated Simon had to put black bags over his car mirrors to stop the bird leaving mess all over his new motor.

But undeterred, the persistent pest moved on to his wife’s car, forcing him to cover up her side mirrors as well.

The oblivious bird didn’t notice when wildlife photographer Simon crept up to him to snatch the amazing shot.

Simon, from Tibenham, Norfolk, said, “Because he was so dead-set on pecking his reflection you could walk within three feet of him and he would pay no notice.

“I could even park on the drive and sit in the car outside the house and he’d start attacking the mirror – he was hell bent on picking a fight with himself.

“At one point a sparrowhawk was attacking him but even that didn’t stop him having a go.

“He wasn’t shy at all.”

According to the RSPB, the territorial males are notorious for smashing into shiny surfaces in the springtime, as they mistake their reflections for rival mates.

Simon said: “I have seen it before but never one so persistent as this – it was as if we were being terrorised by a little blue tit for three weeks.

“But it’s all entertainment in the wildlife world.”

Super-fit Paul Roberts was quite literally flat out after he completed the world’s toughest endurance race across the Sahara Desert – carrying an IRONING BOARD.

The 45-year-old is the first man to complete the gruelling 155-mile Marathon des Sables with the 5kg household object strapped to his back.

The dad-of-two ran the equivalent of a marathon every day for six days across in Morocco in temperatures reaching a searing 50C (122F). 

Iron man Paul finished in an impressive 364th place – beating more than half of the 860-strong field.

Paul, a commercial director of a card and gift company in Ockeridge, Worcs., has raised £6,000 so far for a hospice charity.

He said: “The other athletes were expecting me to give them a rational answer as to why I was doing it but there isn’t really one.

“It’s all about doing something extreme and taking pictures of yourself ironing in unusual locations.

“It really makes no more sense than that.

“A lot of the guys really didn’t want to get beaten by the bloke carrying an ironing board around.

“But people do see that you are putting yourself out and I eventually got lots of support on the course.”

Paul was dared to enter the race after he and his friends spotted an ‘Extreme Ironing’ website featuring pictures of people ironing clothes in remote locations.

He said: “I wanted to do something different and I just thought ‘I bet no one else has ironed in the Sahara’ and the idea just went from there.”

Paul lost half a stone during the backbreaking event which he finally completed on Saturday.

But he almost failed to finish the punishing race when a sand storm floored him during one brutal stage of the course.

Paul added: “One time the wind actually took me off my feet – I was on my back like a turtle and I couldn’t roll back on to my feet – it took me almost a minute to get back up.

“I’m certainly the first person ever to complete the race with a five-foot piece of metal attached to his back and I imagine I’ll be the last.

“I don’t think people will be rushing to outdo me.”

Paul was awarded a special ‘Most Extreme Competitor’ certificate for his efforts.

He added: “I’m sure I’ll do some more but I’ll have to square it with the wife first – I can’t do it all the time.

“It was truly horrible at times, but I loved it, the bad bits as much as the good bits.”

Paul completed the race on behalf of St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester and The Children’s Society.

Skint Brits who can’t afford to shell out hundreds of pounds on official memorabilia for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee can still show their national pride – for just 99p.

The pricey official collection of gifts, which are approved by the Queen herself, include a #25 coffee mug and a cake stand that will set punters back a staggering £395.

A simple box of chocolates costs #15.95 and royalists will need to stump up #495 for an ornamental urn gilded with the Royal Coat of Arms in 22-carat gold.

But with the 26-strong collection out of most people’s price range, a cheaper collection has been launched to help hard-up Brits celebrate the Queen’s special day in style.

Budget company 99p Stores have rolled out their Diamond Jubilee products – with punters able to pick up a three-tier cupcake stand for less than a pound.

The 99p Jubilee range, which hit the shelves last week, includes a portrait of Her Majesty in a mock antique gold frame, 30ft of bunting and five flags on sticks.

Brits can also buy 30 union jack paper cups or 20 Union Jack paper plates for just 99p – as well as key rings, tea towels, tablecloths and 300 other products.

Hussein Lalani, boss of the 99p Stores , said: “We all love the Queen and I’m very patriotic but I think a lot of people would be really pushed to buy a £400 cake stand.

“If you had a choice over a £400 cake stand or a 99p one then it’s obvious which one you would pick.

“Maybe street parties in Kensington might use a £400 cake stand but I can’t see anyone else paying that much and then using it.

“It’s all about having a bit of fun, it’s a perfect range for street parties and for everyone who just wants to enjoy the long weekend celebrating the Jubilee.”

With millions of Brits set to go street party mad over the long bank holiday weekend of June 2 – 5, cheapskate Brits can also put together an ‘Ultimate Street Party DIY’ kit of ten items for under a tenner.

Mr Lalani added: “Anything left over can be used again in a few weeks time for London 2012.

“We have found that the sales have been a lot better than even the Royal Wedding collection last year.

“Last year we sold bunting that if laid out would have stretched from London to Windsor and back five times over.”

“We are already preparing second and third print runs of the portrait. The memorabilia is really flying out, I guess everyone loves the Queen.”

The Queen will take part in a glittering procession through the streets of London to mark her Jubilee on June 5.

Punters and staff at a centuries-old pub are being terrorised by a cheeky ghost – who PINCHES their BUMS.

Terrified regulars at the Queen’s Arms have been keeping their backs to the wall since they realised the randy ghoul was stalking the bar.

And it has become so bothersome that the exasperated owners have called in a team of ghostbusters to give the saucy spook the bum’s rush.

Staff at the Birmingham boozer have nicknamed the ghost ‘Grasper’ after described feeling a “firm pinch” to the buttocks.

Assistant manager Paula Wharton, 41, initially believed the tweaks on her body were muscle spasms.

She said: “One night three of us were talking and I mentioned that I’d felt this pinch on my bum, and everyone else said that it had happened to them too.

“It can’t have been a customer as I’ve never had my bum pinched when I’ve been stood behind the bar.

“It’s happened to all of us on a few occasions, it can happen at any time, night or day.

“We’ve nicknamed the ghoul Grasper after Casper the friendly ghost but he’s a bit too friendly for our liking.”

But it’s not just staff at the pub who have felt the pinch – customers have also fallen victim to the ghoul’s roving hands.

Pretty Ashley Beland, 26, said she thought she had been groped after her encounter with the ghost.

She said: “I was stood at the bar enjoying a glass of wine when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my bum.

“My instant reaction was that it might have been a sleazy bloke trying his luck, but when I spun around ready to give him a piece of my mind there was no-one there.

“I was really confused until the staff explained that there was a ghost running around the place pinching people on the bottom.

“It was a little scary, but I suppose there are worse things that a ghost could do to you.”

Customers have also witnessed chairs moving on their own, heard footsteps when the pub is empty and seen plumes of smoke swirling around.

And it is even thought that several ghouls may lurk around the 170-year-old pub after last orders.

A bald-headed ghost has been spotted walking through walls to find the bar, while rumours suggest that a young girl died decades ago after falling down the stairs.

Manager Christian Dixon, 28, said baffled staff could not agree on the cause of the eerie goings-on.

He said: “We each have our own theories as to what’s causing these occurrences.

“But whatever it is, it does seem some customers and staff love the place so much they just can’t bring themselves to leave.

“A team of ghostbusters is set to visit in the next few weeks. They’re in for a tough night.”

Eccentric Lib Dem Lembit Opik’s career took another unusual turn  – after he made his professional WRESTLING debut.

The former MP – who has already starred in a music video and attempted stand-up comedy – got his first taste of the squared circle on Friday.

Lanky Opik was manhandled by a burly, spandex-clad wrestler and flung around a wrestling ring for several minutes in front of a baying crowd.

Playing a spectator, Opik stood up and accused 18-stone professional wrestler Kade Callous of cheating during his bout.

Clad in a grey suit, Opik squared up to the beefy baddy, who grabbed the shocked-looking 46-year-old by the scruff of the neck before hurling him into the ring.

The nervous-looking politician then crawled away on all fours before being cornered by the towering wrestler as the crowd cheered on.

After being ‘saved’ by good-guy wrestler Iestyn Rees, Opik exchanged insults with his tormentor before challenging him to a tag-team match in June.

Later in the show, Opik was seen to get revenge when he dragged Callous over the top rope on to the floor.

The set-piece was a preview of Opik’s first full bout, which will take place on June 2 this year when he will team up with ‘Welsh Dragon’ Rees to take on Kade Callous and a secret opponent.

Opik’s three-minute ring appearance was part of a sell-out event in Welshpool, North Wales – at the centre of his old constituency – organised by Welsh Wrestling.

A sell-out crowd at the town hall chanted his name as he announced that he would be participating in the tag-team match in six weeks’ time.

Speaking after the appearance, Opik said he was already making preparations for his full debut.

He said: “I imagine I’m the first MP to get inside a professional wrestling ring.

“I’m going to have to do a lot of training, I’ve got a lot to learn, I can only do my best.

“Kade Callous might think I’m a wimpy ex-MP but I’ve had him out of the ring once and I’ll do it again on June 2.

“It’s not how I was originally planning to spend the jubilee weekend but I’m looking forward to it – the eyes of the wrestling world will be on this ring then.”

Promoter Mike Breeze, who has been working in wrestling for 35 years, said he was excited about the addition of Opik to the wrestling roster.

He said: “I know he’s pretty fit anyway but he said he’s going to be hitting the gym every day for the next six weeks.

“He’s taking it very seriously.”

Here’s one tiny egg the Bye family are not going to eat in a hurry – as it’s a contender for the being the smallest in the WORLD.

Tree surgeon Phil Bye, 35, was on his daily egg collection from the coup in his garden when he found the miniscule egg – which is smaller than a 2p coin.

As it was Good Friday, his family thought he was playing a practical joke on them.

His wife Helen, 37, said: “We had about 30 of my family over for Good Friday.

“My husband went to the garden to collect the eggs and came back with normal eggs and this tiny egg and we were are ribbing him thinking it was a joke.

“We thought he had slipped it in with the others. I thought he had stuck a small chocolate egg in with the chickens’ eggs.

“But we could soon tell by his reaction it wasn’t a joke at all.

“We were all quite excited. My aunt is convinced our egg is definitely the smallest. I don’t think it is a common occurrence.”

The egg created a spectacle for the couple’s children and guests, but it was not until two days later that they considered applying to the Guinness Book of Records to have it registered.

Helen’s aunt, June Jennings, had seen an article about Harry Evans, from Bakewell, Derbyshire, last week who was claiming to have the world’s smallest egg with one weighing 7.3g.

She quickly called to tell the Bye’s that their egg was smaller.

Although they had difficulty measuring it using a ruler and tape measure due to its size but – it weighed in lighter than Mr Evans’ at 3.5g.

Fitness instructor Helen, added: “It was really exciting. We thought it was odd but we didn’t think it would be a contender for the smallest chicken egg in the entire world.

“We are going to look into and get in touch with the Guinness Book of Records. It is something for the kids to treasure – it is quite special.”

The couple’s six hens produce up to six average-to-large-size eggs each day and enjoy collecting them with their children, Lily, seven, and Sonny, five.

Helen, from Rougham, Suffolk said: “The children are very fond of the chickens. They have never produced an egg this small before. They are all big hens.”

The mini-egg is currently being kept in their fridge and will be sent off to Guinness in the hope of it being crowned the world’s smallest.

A sonic boom caused by two low flying RAF fighter jets rocked five English counties last night- with a huge bang which was heard up to 150 miles away.

Police forces across the West Midlands, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Wiltshire were inundated with calls following the massive boom on Thursday afternoon.

Buildings and houses were reportedly shaken, stunning residents and baffling emergency services from across the three counties.

But the mystery was solved when the Ministry of Defence confirmed that two Typhoon fighters had been scrambled from RAF Conningsby, in Lincolnshire after a helicopter pilot had accidentally emitted an emergency signal.

Such signals can indicate an aircraft has been hijacked or ‘gone rogue’.

A MOD spokesman said: “We can confirm that a small civilian aircraft was transmitting inadvertently on an emergency frequency at approximately 1810.

“Two typhoons from the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) responded accordingly and authorisation was given from them to go supersonic which resulted in the sonic boom.

“There was no actual threat to the civilian aircraft and they soon rectified their mistake.”

Alison Howell, 33, a resident from Leamington Spa, Warks, said she thought there had been a huge car crash outside of her house.

She said: “The noise was just deafening, it sounded like a massive car accident right outside my front door. It was pretty terrifying to be fair. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“The windows shook and I thought they were going to break. I’ve never heard anything like it in my life.”

Mandy Leech, 44, from Coventry, added: “If it was just somebody accidentally pressing a button in his helicopter I won’t be very happy because it woke my baby up and scared the life out of me.”

Thames Valley Police duty inspector Phil Rogers said: “There have been no reports of any casualties or damage.

“We believe it could be a sonic boom from a supersonic aircraft.”

While West Midlands Police stated: “The cause of the noise is not known at this stage however we can state that the ‘incident’ does not require any direct police attendance.”

A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created when an object, such as an aircraft, breaks the sound barrier.

A hapless hamster needed super powers when she got stuck to her metal cage – after chomping on a MAGNET from a SPIDERMAN toy.

Four-month-old Smurf was found hanging from the outside of her cage by her MOUTH by stunned owner Kate Meech after she went out for the day with her family.

After being stuck there for anything up to eight hours, the mum-of-four managed to yank the shocked rodent free from the bars of her cage before spotting the outline of the circular magnet in Smurf’s cheek pouch.

The bizarre accident happened when Smurf chewed on the magnet which had fallen off the foot of a #6 Spiderman action figure belonging to Kate’s 10-year-old son Thomas.

Smurf munched on the magnet before squeezing out of her cage at the family’s home in Bugbrooke, Northampton, last Thursday.

Kate, 33, said: “Hamsters are nocturnal so Smurf probably got stuck in the night and was left hanging there all day.

“She somehow managed to squeeze through the bars in the corner of her cage and I found her on the outside dangling by her cheek.

“At first I thought she must have pierced her cheek on the bar so I moved her very carefully up and down the bar.

“When I saw the small circular shape inside her cheek I realised that was how she was attached.

“It took a bit of a tug to pull her away from it and then we had to keep her in a plastic box.

“She seemed to be fine so I thought she would just spit it out if she was left alone.”

Kate and husband Gareth, 37, a computer programmer, discovered Smurf after they returned from a day out with their children, Jack, 13, Thomas, 10, Lucy, eight and three-year-old son George.

Full-time mum Kate added: “We rang the vets but it was closed for the bank holiday except for emergencies. Smurf didn’t appear to be in any pain so we just kept an eye on her.

“But after checking on her for a few days I realised that, instead, her body started to push it out of her cheek through the skin.

“We found the magnet and she just has a little graze on her cheek. But she’s back to her normal, loopy self.

“I’ve warned the children to keep their toys away from the cage from now on.”