Cyclist decapitation article 2008's most complained about paper story: A Times article about decapitating cyclists was the most complained about last year to industry watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission, receiving a record number of complaints about British newspapers and magazines.
The PCC, publishing its annual report today, said it received 4,698 complaints overall last year, a rise of 8% on 2007.
The most complained about article was a comment piece by Matthew Parris, published on 27 December, 2007, in the Times and headlined "What's smug and deserves to be decapitated?".
It attracted 584 complaints, mostly from cycling enthusiasts objecting to the suggestion that piano wire be strung across country lanes to decapitate cyclists as a punishment for littering the countryside, the PCC said.
