AN anonymous webmaster who created pages bitterly abusing Swindon has taken them down.

How To Become A Swindonian was part of a site called Boggoblin, created by a man signing himself only as Tiki.

In October 2002, the Evening Advertiser said the site advised would-be Swindonians: "The first thing to learn is that you don't know, you don't care and you don't like anyone who knows more than you."

It also suggested that non-Swindonians could be spotted " leaving Swindon at the earliest possible occasion."

In addition, the pages told Swindonians they hated " people from social minorities because you don't understand them."

But now people trying to access the pages are greeted with a message from Tiki saying they have closed, although the rest of the site, which bills itself as humour, remains.

Tiki is still defiant, however, and urges people to remember that there is a big, wide world. He says: "All it takes is a one-way train ticket and you're safe.

"So what happened to the definitive guide to Swindon? It wasn't funny anymore. I've been out of the place since 2001 and I'm not planning on going back.

"The only way I can ever truly be free of the place is to forget it ever existed.

"If Swindonians want Swindon, they're quite welcome to it."

Among the Swindonians who do want Swindon is mayor Derek Benfield.

He said: "If the place ever had anything wrong with it, I'm sure it's got a lot better since he left.

"I have always enjoyed criticism, provided it is constructive but when the criticism is just ridiculous it is best to ignore it."

Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) said: "The thing to remember is that when organisations relocate here organisations as diverse as Nationwide, WH Smith, English Heritage and the National Trust they come and have a look around here and are only too happy with their choice.

"If the author of the website wants to come here and give me his views, I would be only too delighted to hear them."

Matt Holland, the director of the Swindon Festival of Literature, said: "As a poet once said, if a place bores you, blame yourself, not the place."

Pet hates

IN the message announcing the pages have been shut down, Tiki says he is tired of threats from people wanting to close the site.

He adds: "This is exactly the sort of thing that made me hate the place."

He has nothing kind to say about many aspects of life in the town and says the residents can keep Swindon, keep the Evening Advertiser, the council, their MPs, their bus service and their school system.

Barrie Hudson