Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has traded on-line insults with shadow transport minister Michael Dugher, saying the motoring show is not made "for people who wear pink ties".

The politician kicked the row off by describing Clarkson as "basically an idiot" who was "not remotely representative of motorists".

Clarkson replied on Twitter, saying: "Labour's transport spokesman says he doesn't like Top Gear. Good. We don't make it for people who wear pink ties."

Mr Dugher said: "Obviously I wear red ties a lot. But what's wrong with the occasional pink one?! What on earth might someone be implying...?"

The Labour MP is not the first politician to fall out with the controversial TV host - diplomats from Argentina, Mexico and India have all complained about the way their nations were portrayed on the show.

Last year ended with the BBC motoring show's crew forced to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some people suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.

2014 also saw the BBC put Clarkson on his final warning following a racism row after claims he used the n-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny Moe during filming of the BBC2 programme.

That led to Mr Dugher's colleague, Harriet Harman, calling for the BBC to sack the presenter.

In recent years Clarkson has been cleared of breaching the broadcasting code by watchdog Ofcom after comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces.

He previously faced a storm of protest from mental health charities after he branded people who throw themselves under trains as ''selfish'' and was forced to apologise for telling BBC1's The One Show that striking workers should be shot.

Mr Dugher, who said he did not watch the show, described its presenters as "a bunch of old blokes wearing jeans and sports jackets".

Its executive producer Andy Wilman said: "He must be Mystic Meg if he knows what we do without watching the show. If he bothered to watch it, he would know that we take as much pleasure out of celebrating a £1,500 estate car battling its way across Africa as we do from a Bugatti Veyron running at top speed. I'll take his point on the jeans though."