John Prescott today brushed off controversy over a hand gesture he made to journalists outside 10 Downing Street. The Deputy Prime Minister was photographed flicking a V-sign at reporters yesterday, and today quipped about the ''trouble'' it had caused him.

He was clearly annoyed when asked about the incident at a question and answer session following a speech to hundreds of delegates at the Core City Summit in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Asked directly about the gesture, he said: ''Second question. I can ignore them.''

Earlier, during his speech about the revival of urban areas including Tyneside, he had been speaking about the view from his hotel window in Newcastle of brand new developments such as the Baltic Art Centre, and the Sage Music Centre, currently under construction, when he made an oblique reference to the controversy.

He had been staying at the five-star Hotel Malmaison, when he had been confused after being told which etage he would be staying on in French rather than which floor, in English.

He said: ''I have my problems with English, never mind French.

''Then I thought, why not try a bit of sign language, but I have had enough trouble with that as it is. I am not having any of that.''

Mr Prescott continually referred to his difficulties with the media during the event. At one point, answering a question from the floor, he asked: ''What would the press do if they hadn't had someone to have a go at in the Government?''

His audience responded with laughter to his jibes about reporters, which began from the moment he arrived, and said ''Good morning the press'' with a wry smile.

Mr Prescott has regularly courted controversy since becoming Deputy Prime Minister, most spectacularly during the 2001 General Election campaign, when he infamously thumped and brawled with a protester who hurled an egg at him.

He has also been accused by French Environment Minister Dominique Voynet of behaving like an ''inveterate macho man'' after he blamed her for the collapse in negotiations on international climate change.

Some attribute his plain speaking to his working class background. He was born in the north Wales seaside town of Prestatyn, the son of a railway signalman and a maid.

Later, he took to the seas, becoming a steward on Cunard passenger liners, and an official of the National Union of Seamen.

At the age of 18 he took up boxing on the ships to protect himself when there was trouble with other crew members. One of his mates on board taught him to fight, and Mr Prescott was so successful that people paid to see him take part in bouts.