A Bromley candidate for May's local elections has been branded "nasty" after sending an "inappropriate" tweet to a female councillor.

Councillor Nicola Dykes - a mother of three - tweeted her congratulations to a mum-to-be who said she was expecting "another boy who will need a school place".

This was in reference to the proposed Bullers Wood School for Boys.

Cllr Dykes replied on Twitter writing: "Congratulations. My little one is 2 and a half months now. Midwife appointments already feel like a lifetime ago."

However, a Twitter storm started when Mike Jones - a Liberal Democrat candidate - replied to the councillor's tweet.

He wrote: "You'll have more time for her after May 3."

Cllr Dykes, a Conservative councillor for Bromley Town ward, responded to the comment before Mr Jones went on to accuse people of not having a sense of humour.

"What an extremely nasty thing to say and disappointing comment from a liberal democrat candidate. Can you not be a hard working cllr and a mother? There is a place for party politics but challenging someone's commitment to their children because they work is completely wrong," Ms Dykes wrote back.

Mr Jones then said his tweet was not misogynistic.

He wrote: "Of course you can, and you are I am sure. I just meant that if you were to lose you'd have more time, which is literally true! Not meant to imply anything mysoginistic (sic)."

Bob Neill, the MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, tweeted the candidate: "What a nasty person you have just shown yourself to be."

In a series of tweets, Mr Jones called Mr Neill's words "rather harsh".

He went on to say: "Look, my OP was in no way meant to be chauvinistic. Yes agree Nicky doing a remarkable job as mother, demanding job and councillor too. Including myself to reverse Bullers Wood School for Boys decision. Many apologies."

Mr Jones later wrote: "I have two daughters and a son and have supported my wife all the way and done my share. And my original comment was a JOKE. Get a sense of humour for goodness sake!!"

Cllr Dykes told News Shopper: "I was really shocked and quite taken aback. It was so inappropriate for that thread, completely misjudged. I don’t want to be made to feel like that especially when we are all working hard on Bullers Wood.

"The apology was not really an apology either. Whatever way you look at it, it was either implying I’m not spending enough time with my newborn or I will lose my seat.

"Politics is nasty at times and you need a thick skin but that was inappropriate."

She also added she was surprised Mr Jones has not deleted the tweet.

A Bromley Liberal Democrat spokeswoman called it an attempt at “political banter”. 

She said: “Mike’s tweet to Nicky Dykes was a clumsy attempt at some political banter but as soon as he had sent it he realised it could be misinterpreted and was absolutely mortified that she was hurt by it – he immediately sent her a personal apology.

“As a party we never make personal attacks on political opponents and we unreservedly apologise to Nicky Dykes if she was offended by Mike’s tweet.”