'Too big for his boots': Tik Tok sensation Spudman hits back at claims his baked potato empire is dividing a Staffordshire town

Ben Newman, 40, aka Spudman, was launched into internet fame after he started the 'Spudarmy' TikTok page, showcasing his life as a jacket potato seller. 

Customers have been known to travel from all over the world and queue for up to three hours to get their hands on his famous £5 spuds.

However, while widely loved by his more than four million followers, the Tamworth-based spud seller has come under fire from nearby businesses in Tamworth, Staffordshire, with some saying 'he is getting too big for his boots'.

Others have accused him of dumping bags of waste, pouring oil down a drain and injuring a member of the public with a gas-powered spud gun.  

There are also claims his huge army of fans use neighbouring businesses chairs, tables and toilets and leave rubbish strewn across the square.

Now, Ben has hit back at the allegations that he is 'dividing the town' where he has traded for 21 years, saying that while 'while you can't please everyone', he is sure that 'the majority of people are happy' that he has 'put Tamworth on the map'. 

He said: "It appears there's a couple of people who aren't happy about the extra foot fall I've brought to the town, but you can't please everybody.

"I'm sure their businesses have benefited as a result too. I think I upset a couple at the council as well after the flowerbed issue. 

"But I believe that the majority of people are happy that I've helped put Tamworth on the map."

The potato seller said that they encourage customers to use the bins to dispose of their waste, but he 'can't be responsible' for all of his customer's rubbish. 

He said: "We have extra bins which the council have put out, and encourage customers to use them, but I can't be responsible for all my customers rubbish. 

"We also have people going to get a Greggs and coming to sit on our tables and chairs to eat, so it works both ways, and I don't really mind that. It's a public space after all."

Ben was made to move his trailer last year to allow the pedestrianised area to be refurbished by the council and was told he would not get his original pitch back.

The plans sparked a blacklash from his "Spud Army" and a petition gained more than 113,000 in less than two weeks leading to a u-turn by the local authority.

But not everyone was happy including Coleen Mills, who owns the nearby Side Walk Café. 

She said: "The toilets are the main issue and people coming to sit down and use our tables, they use us.

"The other week I asked one to move and he said 'what you going to do about it?' and carried out eating their jackets, what can I do?

"We even get them coming in and asking if they can sit upstairs, the toilets are getting abused too. 

"We had to put a gate on to stop them going up and using it and making a mess.

"We're getting abused and people are putting things on Facebook about us saying we are jealous of him. We're really not.

"I don't really know the guy but I have my opinion of him, he was down here but now he thinks he's right up there.

"But Tamwoth giving him the keys to the town, and all that, I don't really get that. But good luck to the guy."