BRITAIN'S independent bookmakers have hit out at Channel 4 betting guru John McCririck and are advising their members to boycott the "Morning Line" programme one which he regularly appears.

Warwick Bartlett, chairman of the British Betting Offices Association, which speaks for the owners of about 1,500 betting shops, said yesterday: "We feel that John McCririck misrepresented the BBOA's position on a number of issues on last Saturday's programme. We have called a Board meeting for February 7th when we will decide what further action to take against McCririck and Channel 4."

"In the meantime we are asking our members to boycott the Morning Line. We're advising them not to switch on the programme in their shops. We're also asking them not to ask Mr McCririck to open any of their betting shops, which we understand is a lucrative sideline for him.

"We are also asking our members to write to all female MPs to draw their attention to the fact that Mr McCririck is chauvinistic towards women, who represent about 25 per cent of our customer base.

"Also we'll be asking the chief executive of Channel 4 to have Mr McCririck removed as we consider him to be past his sell by date and that he has lost touch with the ordinary punter, whom he claims to represent."

McCririck reacted philosophically to Barlett's criticism. "If Warwick Bartlett wishes to draw up a petition to get me sacked by Channel 4 Racing then he will be swamped by people eager to add their signatures," he commented.

There are, I'm afraid, more people who would vote to triple MP's pay or give Fergie a free holiday than say they like the arm waving, loud mouthed, fat so. It's sad but I have to agree that Warwick Bartlett has caught the public mood and is on to a sure fire winner."

Mark Jackson, who will be producing this morning's edition of the Morning Line and coverage of the meeting from Sandown, hit back at Bartlett, saying: "I think Mr Bartlett needs to grow up and stop acting in such a puerile way."