COUNTY Durham MP Pat Glass has apologised after describing a voter as a "horrible racist" while on the EU referendum campaign trail.

The Shadow Europe Minister made the comments at the end of a radio interview after the encounter in Sawley, Derbyshire, adding "I'm never coming back to wherever this is".

Ms Glass, MP for North West Durham, said the comments were "inappropriate" and apologised to the people of Sawley "for any offence I have caused".

The remarks, which have drawn comparison with Gordon Brown's infamous "bigoted woman" comment following his meeting with Gillian Duffy during the 2010 election, came at the end of an interview with BBC Radio Derby.

The Northern Echo: brown.jpgMs Glass's remarks have been compared to Gordon Brown's "bigoted woman" gaffe following his meeting with Gillian Duffy

She can be heard telling the reporter: "The very first person I come to is a horrible racist. I'm never coming back to wherever this is."

The BBC reported that the man she was referring to denied being a racist and said he had referred in the conversation with Ms Glass to a Polish family in the area who he believed were living on benefits, and said he described them as "spongers".

North West Durham MP Ms Glass said: "The comments I made were inappropriate and I regret them.

"Concerns about immigration are entirely valid and it's important that politicians engage with them.

"I apologise to the people living in Sawley for any offence I have caused."

North East UKIP Euro-MP Jonathan Arnott reacted angrily to the comments made by Ms Glass.

The Northern Echo: UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott branded the comments irresponsible

He said: "Those of us who hold an elected office are here to represent people, from all walks of life, and to recognise their legitimate concerns.

"It's utterly irresponsible for a senior elected politician to brand people with concerns about immigration as being racist, or in this case, 'a horrible racist'. By smearing those she disagrees with, genuine and honest debate is suppressed."

Tory MP Maggie Throup, whose Erewash constituency includes Sawley, said the Labour frontbencher "needs to understand that the EU referendum is a highly emotive subject with passionate views on each side of the debate".

"Her comments echo those of Gordon Brown's during the ill-fated Labour general election campaign in 2010, and clearly demonstrate just how out of touch Labour still are with a large proportion of British people."

She called on Ms Glass to return to the area "to see for herself just how great a place it is to live, work and raise a family".