The compilers of the latest edition of the New Oxford Dictionary of English have caused uproar by describing the home of rolling dales, flat caps and whippets as "a former county of Northern England."

The Oxford University Press justifies its decision because Yorkshire no longer has a local government and the dictionary defines a 'county' as "the chief unit of local administration".

The county's famous breed of dog

Under such strict lexicographic rules, they say, Yorkshire does not have "substantive existence".

Though they do concede that the decision to wipe it off the map required a lot of thought and gave them a great deal of trouble.

But not as much trouble as it is causing the legendary proud inhabitants of the supposedly ex-county. Some enraged Yorkshiremen have called for a boycott of the reference book.

Yorkshire has a strong cricketing tradition

David Daniel of the Yorkshire Society said: "It's totally inaccurate to say Yorkshire no longer exists. I am furious."

However, the dictionary does acknowledge the existence of Yorkshire puddings, Yorkshire terriers and Yorkshire fog - a type of grass.