A town centre antiques shop has hit back at a letter criticising it for selling golliwog dolls.

Several of the black-skinned dolls, which were designed as a caricature of minstrels and have exaggerated lip features and frizzy hair, are available to purchase at Upstairs Downstairs in West Street.

The toys, which were common in the UK until the 1970s and were a mascot for Robertson's jam until 2001, are now widely regarded as a symbol of racism.

In a letter to Faversham News, reader Gavin McGregor said: "Regardless of whether or not people historically had or still have some kind of affectionate feeling towards these items as toys, they are demeaning to black people.

"I hope people will agree that ‘golliwogs’ are remnants of a racist past which are not appropriate for display and sale.

"That a Faversham shop is unashamed to display and profit from them is an embarrassment to the town."

However, Andy Wilkinson, who has owned Upstairs Downstairs for three and a half years, says he has nothing to hide and that the dolls are popular with customers.

"Golliwogs are collectibles. They're just part of history. It's not racism," he said.

"I find it quite weird. Everything has got to be offensive.

"People of my age remember having them as toys. I have sold lots and lots of gollis. As soon as they come in they go out again."

Mr Wilkinson says the dolls, which can retail for as much as £100, are commonplace in antique shops, bootfairs and auctions and are still produced by toy makers today.

"We certainly wouldn't sell anything that was pornographic, or is taking the mickey out of people.

"We have got standards. We wouldn't sell anything that we found offensive at all.

"Your business is built on reputation and we don't want to offend people.

"A lot of black people collect them because they say it is part of their history.

"The worst thing, I think, is to try to block the past out and say it didn't happen.

"People say you wouldn't sell Nazi memorabilia - yes we would.

"We have got to move on. It happened and people collect it.

"The youngsters don't identify with them because they're not part of their heritage."