Last month, we reported on a team of trainee solicitors from Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees who met and were pictured with footballing legend Pele (see [2003] Gazette, 27 November, 10).

And we commended Victoria Ferguson for wearing what looked like the local black and white of Newcastle United rather than sucking up to the great man by wearing Brazil tops, as all the others had done.

We are now informed that Ms Ferguson was actually sucking up in spectacular fashion by donning a shirt from Pele's former Brazilian club Santos (well, it was hard to tell from the photo).

But our real apology is for implying that Ms Ferguson supports Newcastle.

She is, we're assured, a Middlesbrough fan, and allegations like that can presumably cause a lot of problems on Teeside.