EAST Lancashire supermodel Agyness Deyn has been voted the “most annoying” person of 2008 by a TV panel show.

The former Rossendale chip shop worker scooped the dubious prize on BBC Three’s celebrity review of the year, which counted down the 100 most irritating people of the year.

The 25-year-old, who is dating Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr, beat off competition from Kerry Katona and Peaches Geldof.

Entertainment journalists and critics panned the Valley model for overexposure in newspapers, her fashion sense and recording a pop song.

But the mayor of Rossendale, Coun Christine Gill, leapt to the defence of the model.

She said: “Agyness is around the same age as my daughter and her brother came to a playgroup I ran. The whole family were really nice people. I wouldn’t describe them as annoying at all.

“Agyness has certainly put Rossendale on the map and we thank her for that. She has bought fame to the area and we wish her well for the future.”

While Deyn claimed top spot in the order, which was decided by the BBC, Bob Geldof’s daughter Peaches, was runner-up and Prime Minister Gordon Brown came third.

A series of guests gave their opinion on Agyness during a piece at the end of the show.

TV presenter Michelle De Swarte said: “She is just everywhere, you can’t get away from her.”

Despite coming out on top of a prestigious best-dressed list earlier this year, ahead of Kate Moss, Deyn’s choice of clothes was also poked fun at.

Her fashion sense was likened to eccentric 70-year-old TV personality Johnny Ball and Eastenders star Pat Butcher, while another described her as “dressing like my granddad”.

The model, whose real name is Laura Hollins, attended All Saints' RC High School, Rawtenstall, before going on to take A-levels at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.

She was spotted as a teenager while working at The Village Chippy, Stubbins.