ACRIMONY SURROUNDS SHAM 69 SPLIT

Punk lovers everywhere will be dismayed by the news that Sham 69 have imploded.

The punk band, whose hits in the late 1970s included Song of the Street, Borstal Breakout and Angels with Dirty Faces, kicked founder member Jimmy Pursey out.

Releasing a statement, guitarist Dave Parsons and drummer Ian Whitewood said that they intended to continue as Sham 69 after Pursey's departure.

"The band had become increasingly fed up with Jimmy's lack of interest in playing live and continually letting down both promoters and fans by pulling out of gigs at the last moment," they said.

Pursey has denied the accusations leveled against him by his former band members, saying he will continue on his own as Sham 69.

Having already split up with the band and reformed it at least twice, he is no stranger to this sort of renewal.

Sham 69 enjoyed recent success thanks to last year's World Cup, which saw Hurry Up England become the England team's official theme song. The single reached number ten in the UK single charts.