Former One Man And His Dog presenter Robin Page has been awarded £2,000 in compensation after he was wrongly arrested for stirring up racial hatred.

Page, 64, was taken in for police questioning after his pro-hunting speech at a Gloucester country fair in September 2002.

At a gathering in Frampton-Upon-Severn, Page began his speech by saying, "If you are a black, vegetarian, Muslim, asylum-seeking, one-legged, lesbian lorry driver, I want the same rights as you."

The former South Cambridgeshire district councillor insisted he heard no discontent amongst listeners of his speech, but was stunned when he was arrested the following month after police followed up a letter of complaint.

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Five months after his arrest, Page was taken to a police station for questioning.

After Page refused to answer any questions without a lawyer present, police threatened to jail him, so he relented 40 minutes later.

Mr Page said: "I was told I had committed a 'hate crime', interviewed under caution and given police bail."

Despite his arrest, no charges were brought against Mr Page.

However, Mr Page discovered his name was on a 'Homophobic Incidents Register' after seeking out documents under Freedom of Information.

Mr Page said: "I believe I have scored a significant victory over the ludicrous and sinister politically correct 'hate crime' culture that is currently doing so much to prevent free speech in this country.

Full article here.