A town hall worker has been suspended after posting an Islamophobic comment on Facebook.

Dave Balderstone, 46, replied to a British National Party post with the message: ‘Kick Islam out of Britain - we need our country back.’

Manchester council bosses took action last week after a member of the public contacted the M.E.N. in disgust.

Mr Balderstone, of Manley Road, Chorlton, has now been suspended from his position as an IT support technician while the post is investigated.

The BNP message to which he replied earlier this month was set against the background of a Union Jack and read: ‘Isn’t it weird that in Britain our flag offends so many people, yet our benefits don’t...’

Mr Balderstone also replied to a BNP post about mass immigration in October, writing: ‘Taxpayers picking up the bill as usual and we are being treated like s***’.

It is unclear whether he is a party member.

Among the ‘favourite quotes’ listed on his Facebook is the line: ‘Don’t slag anybody off until you know you will get away with it.’

Since being suspended from the council he has changed his job status on Facebook to ‘self-employed - bog cleaner’.

When approached by the M.E.N. he said he was ‘shocked’ by what had happened but did not wish to comment further.

The council’s social media protocol, which was updated in the autumn, says that even on private accounts staff should not post anything that breaches the employee code of conduct.

That states workers should have respect for others, should not do anything that will bring the authority into disrepute and should not discriminate on racial grounds.

Serious breaches of the social media guidelines could result in sacking or even legal action or prosecution.

A council spokesman said: “We expect the highest standards of conduct from our employees and view this matter extremely seriously.

“The employee concerned has been suspended pending investigation.

“Although we have not received a complaint from the member of the public who contacted the MEN, we are investigating this matter further under the council’s disciplinary procedure based on the information which the MEN has provided.”