THE woman whose comments about a chip van resulted in a village being called the snobbiest in Britain has resigned.

Kay Allinson-Cooke said in her letter of resignation from the post of chairwoman of Corbridge Business and Visitor Network that she regretted the shame and outrage she had brought on the Northumberland village.

She came under criticism from residents after the comments she made about Margaret and Gary Wilkins' mobile fish and chip van in the village.

Her resignation coincided with the couple selling the van, saying the saga had affected their personal lives.

In a letter to residents and the parish council, Mrs Allinson-Cooke said that 90 per cent of customers using the van were from local authority housing and did not fit with the image the village should be portraying.

She later apologised for the comments, saying they wer inaccurate and politically incorrect.

Mr Wilkins said: "We have lost money on the sale, but that does not matter to me. The happiness of my wife and marriage is more important."

The new van owners are Mrs Wilkins' niece, Donna Forster, 23, and her husband David, 34.

Mrs Forster said: "My aunt fought so hard to keep this business. We are determined to continue that work and are looking forward to the future."