The Tweet Said "Why The F**k Isn't Prince Philip Dead?'

A Labour candidate in the local elections has apologised for sending a tweet about the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Janette Williamson, who is standing for Wirral council, in Merseyside, allegedly asked "why the f**k isn't he dead yet?" in a discussion about Prince Philip on the social networking site.

It has also been claimed she described the shadow cabinet as "both unlikeable and quite right-wing" and said party leader Ed Miliband "needs to grow a set of Ed Balls".

The Twitter account and tweets appear to have been deleted but were seen by Wirral's Conservative leader Jeff Green who has complained to Mr Miliband.

In a statement released by Labour, Ms Williamson said: "I would like to make a full and unreserved apology for my comments on Twitter.

"I appreciate the tone and content of the messages was completely inappropriate and would like to say sorry for any offence caused.

"I feel I have let myself and the Labour Party down and promise to learn from my mistake."

Mr Green, who is leader of Wirral Borough Council, said in an email to Mr Miliband: "While the remarks about you, your MPs and the party you lead are of course a matter for you, I believe her comments on HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to be totally unacceptable and incredibly offensive.

"I am therefore asking you, as leader, to disassociate your party from her remarks and for you to consider whether this person is the acceptable face of the Labour Party in Wirral at the elections on May 3."

A Wirral Labour Party spokesman said: "Janette has apologised for her comments.

"Wirral Labour would like to make it clear that in no one way do these remarks represent the views of the party."