A rant on Twitter about Americans buying costumes for their pets has landed an outspoken councillor in hot water and sparked accusations of bullying.

Canterbury's Lib Dem leader Alex Perkins is set to be investigated for the online outburst after posting a Tweet about Halloween spending in the US.

Responding to news Americans spend $330 million a year on spooky costumes for their pets, he Tweeted: "And I thought I couldn't hate them more."

Renee Wilson, who lives in Bridge and had an American mother, has lodged a formal complaint to Canterbury City Council, describing the remarks as "deeply insulting and discriminatory".

But Cllr Perkins says his hatred was towards pets in costumes and not Americans.

In an email to city council chief executive Colin Carmichael, Mrs Wilson wrote: "As someone whose mother was American, I personally find his comments deeply insulting and discriminatory.

"Sadly, anti-American remarks are often considered acceptable by society.

"I would therefore ask that, before you dismiss this complaint, you ask whether your response would be any different if Cllr Perkins had expressed a 'hatred' for Jews or Muslims.

"All forms of intolerance are unacceptable and must be challenged - especially in public office."

Mrs Wilson says Cllr Perkins's tweet breaches the city council's Code of Conduct.

She said: "Part 2 (a) states that councillors must not 'bully any person'. Expressing open 'hatred' for a nation is a clear example of bullying.

"Part 2 (f) of the code states that councillors must 'not conduct [themselves] in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing [their] office or the Authority into disrepute'.

"I believe that expressing a hatred for Americans does indeed bring the office of councillor and city council into disrepute.

"Given that our city thrives on tourism income, what message does it send to those seeking to visit and invest in the city when Cllr Perkins expressed his 'hatred' for Americans?

"Annex One of the Code of Conduct states that councillors must 'champion the needs of the whole community' and 'support high standards of conduct'.

"What message does it send to those seeking to visit and invest in the city when Cllr Perkins expressed his 'hatred' for Americans...?" - Canterbury resident Renee Wilson

"In expressing 'hatred' for an entire nationality, Cllr Perkins has clearly failed to do this."

Cllr Perkins says Mrs Wilson has misunderstood his Tweet.

He said: "By all means say I hate pets in costumes, but don't call me a racist.

"I do not hate all Americans, just costumes for pets.

"Racism is one of the great evils of this world."

Council boss Colin Carmichael said: "A complaint has been received from a member of the public regarding some comments made by Councillor Perkins.

"Under the Member Code of Conduct the complaint is assessed to see if it should be formally investigated or whether it can be resolved by some other means.

"We cannot make any further comment until a conclusion has been reached."

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