TV star Paul O’Grady yesterday said he stood by every word of his autobiography in which he attacks his neighbours who now live in North Wales.

O’Grady, who shot to fame as drag act Lily Savage, makes a series of unflattering remarks about Michael Long, of Talacre, Flintshire, and his parents Rose and George.

O’Grady personally phoned the Daily Post’s offices in Llandudno Junction yesterday to insist his autobiography was an honest account of how he remembered life as a young boy.

But he said he was sorry if he had upset him.

As a youngster, Michael was a neighbour of O’Grady’s in Birkenhead.

Over eight pages O’Grady describes his memories of Michael and his family in his recently-published autobiography Paul O’Grady At My Mother’s Knee And Other Low Joints.

Michael, 58, who is disabled with a nervous system disorder – said the comments showed them in an “appalling light”.

But O’Grady told the Daily Post: “I loved growing up on Merseyside,” he said. “I’ve had so many letters and emails from people saying they remembered growing up there and how much they’ve enjoyed the book.

“It was a long time ago, I haven’t seen these people for 40 years. They have taken it the wrong way. If I have upset them I apologise but that is how I remember it. Families were always falling out.”

The chat show host claimed he had left a lot of stuff out his autobiography which could have upset people even further but he chose not to.

In the book he claimed his (O’ Grady’s) mother had described Michael’s mum Rose as a “dye-headed bitch” and a member of the Orange Lodge who “thrived on doorstep altercations”.

Michael and his partner Linda, who live in Talacre, hotly disputed O’Grady’s account of their family. Yesterday he said: “I am disgusted, I have loads of witnesses who will testify to what I say.”

Meanwhile, another neighbour unhappy with the way she was portrayed in the book has come forward.

Sarah Mooney from Birkenhead said she was upset to find O’Grady claimed her dad was “handy with the belt” and her brother Franny stole from church collection plates.

Sarah said: “He said my dad was handy with the belt if the boys stepped out of line – my dad never hit any of us. He also said my brother was an altar boy who stole. He was never an altar boy and was not a thief.

“He also paints the family as being paupers and “peripatetic” – another word for gypsies.