A COBBLER at loggerheads with his council is to publish a book.

Tony Martin is launching the self-published book on his bitter dispute with Durham City Council. Provisionally called Cobblers to the Council, it should be ready next month, to coincide with a BBC documentary about his fight.

Mr Martin said: "I have had to have it looked at legally and there may have to be one or two things I have to keep out, but it is almost finished."

It concentrates on the council's troubles with the Gala Theatre.

The authority took over the running of the complex when a management company collapsed owing £700,000. Recent figures showed the theatre was still making a loss.

Mr Martin said yesterday: "The theatre is a millstone around the neck of the people of Durham. It is a black hole."

He started his campaign four years ago when the council put parking restrictions outside his Durham Cobbler shop in Claypath.

He has been threatened with court action over a display of Press cuttings in his shop window.