A Tunbridge Wells bar which promised partygoers the chance to dance with midgets has been rapped by the advertising watchdog.

The Advertising Standards Authority said the advert for a Christmas event at Bar Fusion in Southborough "was likely to cause serious and widespread offence".

It was said the ad, placed on the bar's Facebook page and viewed in December last year, featured text which hailed the chance to spend "Christmas Eve with midgets.

"For the first time in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas Eve, party with our very own Xmas midgets - that's right, midgets!!!!!!!. Entry just £5 all night"

The complaint objected to the word midgets, claiming it was "offensive to short-statured people".

Bar Fusion said it was not its intention to cause offence and with hindsight they felt bosses must apologise for doing so.

According to the ASA's judgement: "They said the night and artists were booked by an outside promoter who used the term.

"They therefore believed it was acceptable to use the term and that it would not cause offence.

"They said once it become apparent that the ad had caused offence, they removed the ad."

Facebook said the ad in question was not a paid-for Facebook advertisement. They said the content was entirely user-generated and they did not monitor, review or verify the claims.

The ASA upheld the complaint, while acknowledging Bar Fusion didn't intend to use the ad in future.

But it admitted the use of the word midgets "portrayed the presence of individuals of short stature as an attraction and source of entertainment."

It said the ad was likely to cause "serious and widespread offence."

It claimed the ad was irresponsible and had breached the advertising standards code.