You can always rely on a British comic to try to bring a sense of humour to even the darkest of situations.

David Baddiel has taken a pot-shot at Vladimir Putin in one of his latest tweets and inadvertently dragged the sleepy Kent commuter town of Sittingbourne into the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Posting a photograph of a stern-looking Russian president sitting at a tiny desk in a huge hall at the Kremlin, the Kent comic and author wrote: "Vlad. Mate, It makes your desk look really small. Like you work at a Thomas Cook in Sittingbourne."

It created a few chuckles and picked up more than 9,000 'likes' although, unfortunately, Sittingbourne hasn't had a Thomas Cook travel agents since September 2019 when the national chain went bust.

It's base in the town's Forum shopping centre was taken over by Hays Travel along with more than 500 other branches.

Manager Chris Keenan said he hadn't seen the tweet but directed all calls to the chain's central press office in Sunderland.

David, 57, who used to co-present the Baddiel and Skinner unscripted TV show with his pal Frank Skinner and also had a hand in the football anthem Three Lions (Football's Coming Home) with Skinner and the Lightning Seeds, is often seen around the town.

He used to live in Dungate near Rodmersham.

Among those who replied to his tweet was Lee Stelfox from Sittingbourne who said: "Booked many holidays at Thomas Cook on those tiny desks in the Forum."

Another wrote: "I live in Sittingbourne and inside Thomas Cook is much nicer than that place". Another added: "I used to live in Sittingbourne and this made me laugh far harder than it should have!"

One woman from the town replied: "I get so excited when I catch a glimpse of him out and about. Then I'm like 'grow up, he lives here, get over it'."

One other added: "That desk looks like it’s from Cindy’s 70s bedroom collection."

David, who is married to fellow comedian Morwenna Banks, was also proved to be a popular choice to open Rodmersham Primary School's annual summer fete.

He added: "Sittingbourne remains a go-to reference place for me as a 'town that not many people give any thought to'."

He now lives in north London and is a Chelsea supporter.

He and Sittingbourne's former Labour MP Derek Wyatt, who also lived in Rodmersham, were often seen together.

David's most recent books are The Boy Who Got Accidentally Famous and Jews Don't Count.