Horror author Stephen King has delivered a takedown of an Indiana law that allows businesses to refuse to serve gay people.

The Shining author – who has previously backed a number of pro-gay causes – spoke out after Governor of Indiana Mike Pence signed into law the controversial ‘Religious Freedom Restoration Act’, which gives people the right to discriminate against gay people on the grounds of religion.

Despite Mr Pence’s insistence that it is not anti-gay and does not allow people to discriminate, some local business owners are already using the law to refuse to serve gay couples.

The author tweeted his condemnation of the law – which has seen the state condemned by a number of figures.

Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it’s still a dog turd. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 31, 2015

Mr King tweeted: “Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration act is gay discrimination, pure and simple. You can frost a dog turd, but it’s still a dog turd.”

He is the latest in a string of big names to come forward to condemn the law.

Former Disney channel star Miley Cyrus branded Governor Pence “an a–hole” for allowing the legislation to pass onto the books.

Out TV host Ellen DeGeneres tweeted recently: “For anyone who is refused service under #Indiana’s new law, you deserve better. Acceptance and progress take time. But they always arrive.”