Stock: One of the tea towels

England's premier radical bookshop has began selling tea towels with a forthright anti-DUP slogan.

Housmans has been in the business for more than 70 years.

It claims to stock the largest range of radical newsletters, newspapers and magazines in Britain.

The independent outlet specialise in "books, zines and periodicals of radical interest and progressive politics".

Housmans recently announced on Twitter that it was now stocking tea towels with the message: 'F*** the DUP'.

When contacted, the bookshop declined to comment on the issue.

Last year Housmans was named the best in London at the British Book Industry Awards and has hosted a series of events, where speakers have included former London mayor Ken Livingstone.

The DUP responded saying: "Such a product is clearly offensive and we are concerned about the spread of such intolerance."

The controversial slogan first appeared on a placard during the London Pride parade in July of this year.

It was draped below balloons, which lifted the banner above the crowd where it was visible to many people.

Photos of the slogan were quickly and widely distributed on social media.

A similar banner was confiscated during Belfast's Pride parade in August.

DUP Assembly Member Jim Wells reported the matter to police.

Mr Wells said at the time: "I told the police that I regarded the placard as a hate crime and grossly offensive. It was also in my view totally against the legislation controlling parades in Northern Ireland."

In October the PSNI said a file will be submitted to the Public Prosecution Service over the banner.

The DUP has become a target for the LGBT community after the party blocked a majority vote in Stormont to legalise same-sex marriage using the petition of concern.

The veto mechanism was originally designed to protect minorities.

Belfast Telegraph