'Napalm' high street pressman quits

A council press officer who joked that the best way to support a high street was to use napalm has left his job.

Sam Masters, who was employed on a freelance basis by Lambeth Council in south London, wrote: "Having spent a considerable amount of time in Streatham, my solutions for supporting the High Road mostly involve napalm."

He stopped working for the council on Friday after his comment provoked outrage from local politicians.

Streatham MP Chuka Umunna described the tweet as "stupid" and called for Mr Masters to apologise.

He posted on Twitter: "My constituents pay your salary."

Mr Umunna added: "Part of a local authority press officer's job is to promote an area not run it down, whether on twitter or any other platform."

In a letter to the Streatham Guardian, Mr Masters said he was "genuinely sorry" about his message.

A council spokesman said: "Sam was a freelancer on a daily rate and has chosen to pursue other opportunities."