A giant Pride flag wrapped around Totnes Castle has sparked a political row after an MP described the display as “wildly naff” and “generally vomit-inducing”.

Rupert Lowe, founder and leader of Restore Britain, criticised the 150-metre rainbow flag after an image of the display attracted national attention online.

But Totnes Pride organisers have rejected the suggestion that the display caused local - or queer - outrage, saying the response from the town was “overwhelmingly positive”.

The flag was unfurled around the historic castle on Saturday, September 26, as part of the return of Totnes Pride following a three-year hiatus.

Around 400 people gathered in the castle grounds to watch 30 flag bearers unfurl it at about 10.45am.

The display was described by organisers as a “piece of public art”, with support from English Heritage.

Mr Lowe shared an image of the castle on social media the following day, writing: “Totnes. Devon. It is not 'homophobic' to label this as wildly naff and generally vomit-inducing.

“Sensible gay people despise the woke theatre of it all too, and just want to get on with their lives.

“Restore Britain backs pride - pride in our country, and pride in our people.”

Restore Britain have been approached for comment.

His comments prompted a response from South Devon MP Caroline Voaden, who accused him of using culture-war politics to stoke division.

“Totnes Pride was a fantastic example of a community coming together. It’s no surprise that triggers Rupert Lowe so much,” she said.

“It’s sad really that he is so bothered about a piece of rainbow coloured fabric. The politics he and his ilk embody is about nothing more than culture wars and stoking division.”

Totnes Pride facilitator Pulama Kaufman said the reaction from people involved in the festival had been very different.

In response to Mr Lowe’s comments about “sensible gay people”, she said the LGBTQ+ people who organised and attended the event “consider themselves sensible” and thought it had been wonderful.

She said the castle had been chosen to create a highly visible moment for the town.

“We wanted to send a message to Totnes, and beyond, that queer people have always been here and always will be,” she said.

The town’s reputation for arts and culture had also influenced the decision.

“We wanted our Pride festival to reflect that with its own unique and audacious moment of public art,” Ms Kaufman said.

Organisers say they have received no complaints from attendees or residents about the castle event.

Ms Kaufman said the local response had been “overwhelmingly positive”, with negative reaction appearing primarily to have come from online commenters outside Totnes.

“We've been surprised that some national papers have reported ‘fury from residents’ as we have not come across any,” she said.

Our reporter found some criticism from local residents on its social media pages, but the majority of negative comments came from accounts outside the area, including one as far afield as Poland.

More than 1,200 tickets were sold across the four-day festival, with events including art workshops, live performances and family-friendly and alcohol-free activities.

Ms Kaufman said the return of Pride had “exceeded our ambitions”.

She added that some of the negative and “truly hateful” comments directed at the festival demonstrated why Pride remained necessary in semi-rural areas such as the South Hams.