A Kent band has been dropped from this year's Glastonbury music festival over a song titled Kill Tory Scum (Before They Kill You).

Killdren, which describes itself as "a two-bit rave punk band who pen politically charged slapstick anthems", was booked to play the Shangri-La section of the popular festival later this summer.

However, the group, from Tunbridge Wells, has now been axed from the bill over its controversial track.

The song's lyrics include the line: “Even if it’s your dad or your mum, kill Tory scum, kill Tory scum…murder them all to the beat of a drum, kill Tory scum, kill Tory scum".

Their addition to the lineup sparked much criticism over the weekend, including from the Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up following the murder of the Labour MP in 2016.

However, disclaimer at the end of the song's music video, released before the 2017 general election, said: "Killdren do not condone the killing of MPs or voters unless they are Tories whereby they should be murdered".

It then adds: "At the ballot box...OBVIOUSLY".

Organisers said in a tweet: "The band Killdren were booked by Shangri-La independently from Glastonbury Festival as just one of hundreds of live acts due to appear on our field's stages this year.

"We are incredibly saddened that the attention this booking has received has caused such upset and negativity towards such a peaceful festival we are so proud to be part of.

"The Shangri-La field is all about positivity and pacifism, unity and love.

"We in no way condone violence and will not allow this matter to overshadow the incredibly inclusive spirit of Glastonbury, and as a result we have taken the decision to withdraw the booking of this band."

"We in no way condone violence and will not allow this matter to overshadow the incredibly inclusive spirit of Glastonbury" - festival organisers

The band said its merchandise sales had increased substantially since the row erupted and has retweeted dozens of comments criticising the organisers' decision.

A statement said: "The full title of the song in question is Kill Tory Scum (Before They Kill You) and the video questions state-sanctioned violence.

"The song was created in time for the last General Election in 2017 and the ‘killing’ was encouraging people to vote out the Tories.

"People don’t like our s****y music, so they never make it to the end of the video, which makes the above very clear.

"The IPPR [Institute for Public Policy Research] thinktank reported that up to 130,000 preventable deaths have occurred as a result of Tory austerity measures".

Tunbridge Wells has voted in a Conservative MP in every election since the constituency was established in 1974 and is currently represented by business secretary Greg Clark, who has been approached for comment.

In the recent local elections, the Tories had a vote share of 29%, more than any other party, though former council leader David Jukes lost his seat to the Tunbridge Wells Alliance party.

Killdren has been approached for further comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Tunbridge Wells