HE has reigned over Hay-on-Wye for 40 years - now the booktown's self-styled king has revealed plans to sell up.

But Richard Booth is not going without a fight. He will brandish his latest mission statement 'what a horrible world we live in' during a major re-marketing of his one million books in November.

"If I can't get that away we will sell them. The only reason Hay succeeds is because of its second hand books," said Richard, owner of the 'world's largest second hand bookshop'.

His battle is likely to be targeted at the Hay Festival which he says has become so popular, visitors are not buying second hand books.