This is Leicestershire --The chairman of the Richard III Society has asked fellow Ricardians to put a stop to insults and taunts which have caused a rift between Leicester and York.
He spoke after hundreds of negative comments about Leicester were left online by people who think the king should be buried in York.
Dr Phil Stone told the Mercury the situation had "got out of hand" and pleaded with York supporters and, in particular, society members, to remain polite.
He said: "The society has maintained all along its neutral stance and I remind members of that.
"I realise the situation is a passionate one but we have to put a stop to this."
Dr Stone said while he had to remain neutral regarding the final resting place of former monarch, he could see the benefits of both sides.
"I've got members from both sides who are campaigning for their cities, but I have to remain neutral – my main focus is to have Richard reinterred with dignity and honour," he said.
"I understand both claims. For example, I'm not entirely sure about the Minster (in York). I'm not sure where it would put him, it has no specific area, whereas Leicester has a designated burial place.
"I like the fact Leicester would not charge people to visit him. It cost £8 the last time I visited York Minster.
"I find it hard to understand the argument Richard must be brought home to York.
"He was born in the Midlands and died in the Midlands."
Since the discovery of the king's remains, partisan followers of Richard III – mainly from York – have been slinging derogatory words and disrespectful jibes at each other after it was announced the king's bones would be buried at Leicester Cathedral.
Since then, a judicial review has brought Richard's final resting place into question.
It has also prompted York supporters to brand Leicester's cathedral "poxy" and suggest our city has "no integrity" because it only "wants Richard for the money".
A Facebook page set up by the creators of a petition to have Richard III reinterred in York has become a forum for insulting comments about Leicester.
One Yorkist supporter wrote: "Nice one Leicester. Keep on looking desperate and tacky while York retain the dignity and poise you could never in a million years comprehend."
Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth has publicly backed the city's right to reinter Richard III's remains, specified on the exhumation licence given to the University of Leicester by the Ministry of Justice. The licence is now the subject of a judicial review.
Mr Ashworth has also urged people to back the Mercury's campaign to promote a petition which asks for Richard's remains to be buried in Leicester.
He said: "Leicester has the overwhelming case for reinterring Richard and while there's nothing wrong with good-humoured banter, some of the comments are very offensive."
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