THE Forest of Dean District Council's £25,000 tourist guide, at the centre of a media feeding frenzy concerning a picture of convicted paedophile David Harper, will not be recalled.
"Copies have gone to tourist information centres all over the country and it would be virtually impossible for us to recall them all at this stage," said a council spokesman.
"Aside from that the cost would be considerable – we have to be concerned about public money in these times."
Harper, 66, was jailed for eight years at Gloucester Crown Court in 2007 for gross indecency with two boys and other charges relating to indecent images.
He is pictured in the guide in his past role as The Fat Controller with Thomas the Tank Engine, which from time to time offers rides for families on the Dean Forest Railway. Harper's association with the railway ceased before his conviction.
The council says 50,000 copies of the guide have already been distributed. In the meantime media attention has given the council's press and public relations team a tough time.
The council spokesman added: "This was a genuine mistake and we are extremely sorry for any offence it may have caused. The truth is somebody picked the picture out of a file and we chose it to illustrate the railway.
"As we see it the picture represents the character of the Fat Controller and the engine, not David Harper."