Maidstone - or at least a former comedy club in the town - is packed full of homophobic, racist, sexist "narrow-minded morons" according to comedian Alan Carr.

However, Mr Carr reckons he might still get away with coming to the county town for a book signing because "half the people can't read".

The comments were made in an interview for the website of London newspaper The Metro, in which Mr Carr was asked about the worst gig he has ever done.

He pointed the finger at former Union Street club Up the Creek, adding: "They hated me. I never lasted more than seven minutes. It was full of homophobic, narrow-minded morons.

"It wasn't just me. If you were black or Asian you got racist abuse, if you were a woman you got 'show us your tits'."

And the son of former Maidstone United manager Graham Carr added: "I better be careful in case I'm doing a book signing there... but I suppose I'll be alright as half the people in Maidstone can't read."

Unfortunately for Alan, half of them can.

Michael Lerpiniere, of Pitt Road, Maidstone, was among those wounded by the comments.

He said: "I do find him funny but a Maidstone joke isn't funny if you're from Maidstone. I don't think everyone's racist; most people are smart enough round here."

Jim Rennie, landlord of the Old House at Home pub in Pudding Lane, said: "He hasn't given the rest of Maidstone a chance; it's a very gregarious town. There's lots of people and they all get on together."

Week Street fruit seller Kris Van Haften took the comments with a pinch of salt.

He said: "I'm not insulted. Shock comedy's one of the best known kinds of comedy. I think he was probably speaking fairly flippantly."

However, he added: "You can't generalise about a whole area from meeting a tiny percentage. Perhaps it's only the moronic types that go to see him."

Another aggrieved resident made this salient point: "Surely he's as guilty of the crimes he's accused us of by making sweeping generalisations like that."

Alan Carr's agent said it was "just a joke" but was trying to get a further comment from the comedian.