A senior councillor has labelled a petition to force her to stand down over statements made on Twitter as “political correctness gone berserk”.

Susan Hall, leader of Harrow Borough Council’s Conservative group, came under fire for calling ITV’s I’m a Celebrity contestant Gemma Collins “fat, ugly and ghastly”.

More than 100 people have signed an online petition, instigated by Fire Brigades Union member Leigh Pickett, urging her to quit.

Cllr Hall, who also sits on the London Fire Authority, said: “It’s too ridiculous in my view.

“This is a television programme which thrives on controversy and I am honestly amazed my tweets have been singled out in this way.

“It’s a sad state of affairs when a person doesn’t have the luxury of being able to say what they want because of political correctness. It’s political correctness gone beserk.

“It’s a trial by Twitter jury.”

During Monday's programme, Cllr Hall tweeted: “Who on earth is that stupid fat blond woman Gemma?”

She later added: “OMG this fat woman Gemma is ghastly, really ghastly...however watching her squeal may be funny!”

The petition claims the comments were “disrespectful, hurtful, offensive and very unprofessional”.

It says: “Councillor Susan Hall didn't even apologies for the comments she made, possibly indicating no remorse.

“Instead, Councillor Susan Hall went on to claim she was being trolled by respondees, when in actual fact these respondees were just people offended by her comments.

"It is well documented that comments of this nature have a profound negative effect on anyone suffering insecurities around their weight, leading to anxiety, lack of self confidence, self loathing, self harm, depression and in extreme cases suicide.

"Councillor Susan Hall is bound by at least two codes of conduct in her professional capacities - one for Harrow Council the other for the London Fire Authority.”