Mayor and political rival in case of mistaken identity

The cafe owner has been stopped in the street by constituents eager to tear a strip off James Doyle.

The confusion is causing some amusement as mayor James is a Liberal Democrat while Nick is a Tory - tipped to take over from James as Mayor of Worthing when his tenure runs out.

Just to add to the confusion, Nick's cafe in Goring Road, Worthing, is called Doyle's.

Matters came to a head following a recent row between James and a seafront cyclist who accused him of using the F-word.

Nick said people had come into the cafe to bend his ear about swearing and stopped him in the street to voice their disapproval.

He tried to explain it was a case of mistaken identity but quite a few were unconvinced and told him off anyway.

Both Nick and James are well-built six-footers, with similar coloured hair and rugged square jaws.

While Nick was educated at St Andrew's School for Boys' in East Worthing and played football in his younger days, James was at boarding school on the Isle of Man and developed a love for rugby.

Nick said: "I have had about ten people confuse me with the mayor. I got pulled up in a supermarket, a building society and WH Smith.

"It really has been very bizarre. I suppose at first glance we look a little bit alike."

James said: "We are both quite large guys and people think we have got a good sense of humour. I know Nick has.

"It has been the subject of a number of jokes in the council. It is quite an honour to have a cafe named after me by another councillor."

Nick revealed he named the cafe not after his political rival but after the famous Doyle's seafood restaurant overlooking Sydney Harbour in Australia.

James admitted using the F-word when he got embroiled in a dispute with a member of the public who was Cycling along the promenade with his young son.

Cycling is banned on the seafront and James insisted he only said: "Why did you tell me to F off?" and didn't directly swear at anyone.