An email christmas card recreating the nativity scene with a group of chavs has prompted anger in a town where it is allegedly set.

The 'chavtivity' cartoon has been circulating on the web with the subject heading 'Nativity in Crawley'.

In the picture Mary and Joseph are a pair of tracksuit wearing teenagers slumped in a battered bus shelter with their baby in a pushchair and a Staffordshire bull terrier on a chain.

They are being greeted by three wise chavs, who are presenting them with gifts of booze, cigarettes and a stolen car stereo.

Mary is chain-smoking and there is a Crimestoppers' poster of Joseph behind his head.

Crawley mayor Sally Blake said she was upset with whoever was behind the cartoon. She said it had prompted angry reactions from many residents.

She said: "I do wonder if the people who try to put Crawley down with things like this have ever been to the town.

"This is such a thriving, dynamic and vibrant place and they just keep trying to undermine all the good things happening here by trying to present us like this."

Coun Blake said Crawley was a town of 100,000 people, most who were involved in a great many positive activities.

She said: "It is a shame everyone always focusses on the few people who give us a bad image."

Her thoughts were echoed by Crawley Borough Councillor Linda Seekings.

Coun Seekings, who represents Northgate and Manor Royal, said: "I'm sure whoever made this must have seen it as a joke but it has fallen a bit flat. Anything that mistakes what Christmas is about is not really that funny."

She said if this was how people saw Crawley they were badly mistaken.

Coun Seekings said: "There is a lot more to Crawley than teenagers in bus shelters."

Former Crawley Borough Council leader Chris Redmayne said he was also disappointed at how the town was being treated.

He said: "I try to take these things with a pinch of salt but it is disappointing. Crawley is probably the most vibrant town in the south of England. We are attracting new businesses all the time, we have excellent facilities and yet this is how we are portrayed.

"People who live here know that this is not what it is like. We are trying to change the image of this town and this does not help."

Are you a residents of Crawley who is angry at the card or do you find it funny? Tell us your thoughts below.