IT JUST goes to show the importance of spelling.

Oxfordshire charity ambassador George Osborn has spent the past 24 hours replying to angry Twitter users who are incensed at his audacity for becoming a journalist.

Mr Osborn is indeed a journalist: he writes about video games and is the founder of Go Editorial, a marketing and copywriting firm.

But he is not the journalist they think he is.

Witney Gazette:

In their haste to lambast the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and current MP for Tatton (@George_Osborne) for his decision, announced yesterday, to become the new editor of the London Evening Standard, dozens of Twitter users threw spelling out the window and followed Mr Osborn on the social network only to hurl abuse at him.

He, in return, is hoping to use his new-found popularity to raise awareness for Oxfordshire charity Special Effect, for which he became an ambassador in January.

The charity uses video games to enhance quality of life for people with disabilities.

Mr Osborn, who lives in Hitchin near London, said: "The funny thing is, I've not really had problems with this for the best part of a year.

"The first time it became an issue was in 2012, the first budget. Then for the next four years people tweeted me from time to time.

"What was remarkable about yesterday was the moment it was announced he had got this new job, the followers immediately started rolling in."

Witney Gazette:

Mr Osborn said one Twitter user joked that they had looked at his Go Editorial website and said he was more qualified for the Evening Standard job than the former Chancellor.

He added: "Some people have suggested I should go for the job of Chancellor."

Mr Osborn first became involved with Special Effect two years ago at a computer games conference.

He was so impressed by the charity's work he started raising funds for it  for it - first with a bake-off and last year by running 10km.

In return for his enthusiasm, the charity this year made him an official ambassador.

He said: "It's something that really fits with the industry I'm in.

"I've seen how they use eye-tracking devises and specially-adapted controllers.

"One of the managers, Mick Donegan, gave a talk I saw where he said Unicef lists one of the rights of children as the right to play and what they do at Special Effect is allow children to play and that is so important."

Witney Gazette:

Tiago dos Santos, seven, road-testing some of the special equipment at Special Effect.

Find out more about the charity's work at specialeffect.org.uk