The Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins has left Twitter following death threats concerning speculation over her stepping in to replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear.

Perkins, 45, took to Twitter this morning to tell her followers that she will be taking a break from the site after receiving tweets from people who would “like to see me burn to death”.

She posted: “Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me & Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead...

“This morning, someone suggested they'd like to see me burn to death.”

Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me & Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead... — Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) April 14, 2015

She finished: “All of which goes to say that I am off Twitter for a bit. Love and peace x.”

Fans were quick to write messages of support. One wrote simply, "Sorry on behalf of humanity" while another posted: "What is the matter with people? That is terrible. Sending you a huge cyber-hug. xxx."

Perkins was targeted after rumours surfaced that she may replace Clarkson who was dropped from the BBC show following a "fracas" which saw him punch producer Oisin Tymon.