His dramatic account of how he helped to foil a bomb attack on Glasgow Airport last summer earned John Smeaton a string of bravery awards.

But it was his breezy warning to would-be terrorists that "Glasgow doesn't accept this... we'll set aboot ye" that captured the nation's imagination and transformed "Smeato" into a folk hero.

Now, however, the former baggage handler's celebrity status has itself come under fire amid extraordinary claims that he exaggerated his involvement in stopping the would-be bombers.

In an astonishingly bitter outburst, key players in the incident cast serious doubt over the extent of Mr Smeaton's role in thwarting the men who drove a blazing jeep into the terminal building last summer.

They are angry at the accolades that have been heaped upon 31-year-old Mr Smeaton, who collected a Queen's Gallantry Medal this month, while they have been largely ignored.

The men, who say they were the first on the scene to fend off the terrorists, believe they should have been similarly rewarded for their efforts.

Alex McIlveen, who tore a tendon in his foot while tackling burning Kafeel Ahmed, told reporters: "John Smeaton is not telling the whole truth. When it came to tackling the bombers, he didn't land a blow."

Mr McIlveen claimed it was he and two other men, Michael Kerr and Stephen Clarkson, who were mainly responsible for defeating the terrorists that day and all Mr Smeaton contributed were fine words.

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