Town plans name change to shake off Ali G image

The Surrey town of Staines is pondering a change of identity to Staines-on-Thames in a bid to attract more business to the area.

The proposal has been put forward by Alex Tribick, chairman of the Spelthorne Business Forum which covers the area. He said: "Everything we can do, even if it's a small thing like changing the name, can only be good for encouraging business and investment in the area.

"The River Thames, as a beautiful landscape, can only encourage businesses to make that relocation for the benefit of its employees."

However, Anne Damerell, of the Staines Town Society, said she thought the idea was "absurd" and "pretentious nonsense".

"I think if Ali G gets to hear about this attempt to gentrify Staines, he'll have a real laugh at us doing something so silly."