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Teesside messiah outlines plan for 'Boro

A former spy has proclaimed himself the new messiah in a “Sermon on the Mount” on top of Redcar and Cleveland hill Roseberry Topping, gazettelive.co.uk reports.

Middlesbrough-born David Shayler, who was jailed in 2002 for leaking national secrets (including allegations that the secret services plotted to assassinate Libyan Leader Colonel Gaddafi), preached to a handful of climbers during the sermon on Friday night.

Among his claims, a bare-footed Mr Shayler said anyone can perform miracles and that Middlesbrough could be promoted as the home of the new Messiah to attract pilgrims and change people’s perceptions of the town.

Mr Shayler admitted people “might find it strange” for the messiah to appear in Middlesbrough. He said: “When people think of Middlesbrough, they tend to think of unemployment, child abuse and a failing football team. But I want to set the record straight. “Why not promote Shayler as the Messiah and get people here on pilgrimages?”

Mr Shayler spoke of the “miracle” he believes he performed when striker Massimo Maccarone scored a last-gasp winner in the quarter and semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2006.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .