Lord Lucan disappeared in 1974 and now an Indian pensioner named Ranjit Singh III says he regrets claiming he is the missing aristocrat.

When he originally made the announcement, social media went wild with excitement and Ranjit became an instant celebrity as the media flocked to interview him while he navigated the streets of Southall on his zimmer frame.

Pictures were posted online of Ranjit alongside Lord Lucan (who had a Caribbean tan) which many claimed were conclusive proof that Ranjit was Lucan.

Now overweight from a poor diet of chapatis and Lion bars, Ranjit told a sorry tale of his abusive childhood at the hands of his racist nanny, being forced to speak in BBC English and taught how to gamble away his inheritance at blackjack (a racist card game).

However, now a DNA test has proved he is not the missing Lord there has been an Internet pile-on by those who feel betrayed for being so stupid as to believe his nonsense in the first place.

Ranjit has remorsefully told FNN that he will return all the gifts of cufflinks, cuban cigars and cravats that he received from well-wishers.