A former Gravesham mayor has resigned from the Labour Party after making inappropriate comments on a social networking site.

Ray Parker, who was also a former Labour county councillor for Northfleet and Gravesend West until defeat at the 2009 elections, is reported to have made "insensitive and crude jibes" about sectors of the community, including blind people, on his Twitter site.

The ensuing row over his comments have prompted him to abandon his efforts to return to Gravesham council.

In a statement Mr Parker said: "Following misguided comments on my Twitter pages I am standing down as candidate for Northfleet North. I sincerely regret and apologise for any offence these comments have caused."

Cllr John Loughlin , Labour councillor for Northfleet South, said: "I have known him ever since he first came on the council when he was just a young lad and he followed me as Mayor of Gravesham.

"It is a real shame. Ray does have a certain brand of humour, but humour among friends and fellow councillors is one thing; it is very different to post comments which could have been made in anger or in a bad mood on Twitter."

Fellow Labour councillor Makhan Singh, who represents Pelham, added: "This is very unfortunate and I think a lot of people will think he did the right and honourable thing by stepping down."

Last year Mr Parker was the agent for shamed Labour MP hopeful Kathryn Smith who was banned from driving for 20 months, after she careered into a roundabout in Dartford, days before the general election. The 50-year-old was more than double the legal alcohol limit.

Cllr Mike Snelling called for the Labour Party to deselect Mr Parker, before news of his resignation. Cllr Snelling said: "Not only will all the residents, I, and my Conservative councillors in Gravesham be appalled by Mr Parker's insensitive and crude jibes, but there is a question of judgement here regarding his Gravesham Labour Group who selected him."

Karen Osborn, chief executive of the charity Kent Association for the Blind (KAB), said: "If what Cllr Parker said is true, then I think it's a rather cheap shot.

"There are many hundreds of blind and visually impaired people in Cllr Parker's area who rely on white canes and other aides to get around independently."

Mr Parker was unavailable for further comment at the time of going to press.