A councillor accused of a racist online attack on an Asian man has apologised.

Ashford’s Jack Woodford who told Nunu Amin to "get back to washing dishes in a curry house," says he now offers "unqualified apologies."

The Ashford Independent member had launched his shocking tirade on Facebook, prompting other borough councillors to demand his resignation.

In a statement he now says: "I offer unqualified apologies to all those members of the Facebook discussion group who have been offended by my response to Nunu Amin and withdraw my comments including that made in my post of June 18, concerning him."

The Wye ward member had been in a bitter row with Mr Amin in a Stop the BNP forum when he told the British-born Asian in a posting on June 18: "Just get back to washing dishes in whatever curry house you work in. Have you thought of emigrating back to India or Pakistan?"

The two men had been in a heated exchange in which Mr Amin had earlier sworn at him and called him "racist scum."

Other Facebook contributors had also rounded on him over his views on subjects such as immigration.

Audio: Cllr Neil Bell tells kmfm why he thinks Cllr Woodford should resign

Cllr Woodford’s statement went on: "I hope that members of Facebook will appreciate from reading the site that I had been subjected to offensive insults for some days.

"I have been called a ‘****** bitch. ‘ a ******pig,’ racist scum, and worse, my family insulted.

"Nevertheless I now realise that my reaction in the heat of the moment was wrong, however serious the provocation."

Cllr Woodford had for several months taken part in a debate on race and expressed concern over mass immigration.

His statement went on: "I am not a racist, I am not a supporter of the BNP..

"I am not against immigration although like many people I have concern at the scale of it and the lack of control.

"I participated on the site as a private individual and I wanted to learn more about various issues, which concern our lives. I now see that this was a mistake."

Cllr Woodward’s outburst at Mr Amin prompted public calls for resignation for other councillors including deputy leader Paul Bartlett.

He called the remarks "disgraceful" and said that provocation was no excuse.

Ashford Borough Council says it has now referred the matter to the authority’s standards committee.

Cllr Woodward says he will not resign but told the Kentish Express he wanted to additionally apologise to the people of Wye and Ashford and the borough council.