FORMER glamour model Katie Price has defended using a racial term on live television.

The 38-year-old said she mentioned the N-word so she could help raise awareness of the sort of abuse her disabled son faces.

The star, who lives near Horsham, triggered a backlash on social media when she used the word on ITV’s This Morning yesterday.

The incident happened as she discussed online bullies who were targeting 14-year-old Harvey.

Her son is partially blind, autistic and has Prader-Willi syndrome.

Price, who grew up in Brighton, has launched a campaign to have online bullying made a specific criminal offence.

She posted a video on Twitter after the interview to say she was happy she said it.

She said: “So I’ve just been on This Morning and I’ve made the headlines everywhere because I used the word n****r.

“Yes I did use the word n****r because that’s what people call my son – they call him a blind n****r black spastic.

“So I’m glad I’ve made headlines using that word because I want to get it out there that it’s not acceptable.

“Just think about it, there are people out there who have to put up with that kind of abuse.

“Because I’m in the public eye I can speak about it and it has got to stop.”

Price continued: “Online bullying has to stop.

“Please sign my petition and get these online trolling horrible bullies off.”

The Argus reported earlier this week a teenager had been formally cautioned by Sussex Police after the force investigated posts on social media which mocked Harvey.

The unnamed 19-year-old man was arrested in February after using Twitter to target him.

Price is also calling for the introduction of a national register of cyber bullies.

She said people of all ages and backgrounds were suffering every day.

Her petition has now gained more than 210,000 signatures.

Speaking on ITV’s Loose Women earlier this month, Price said creating an official list of trolls could help act as a deterrent.

She said featuring on the list could affect people’s job prospects.

The star said: “The police don’t know what to do with them.

“They don’t know how to punish them.

“There are always a lot of people who have bullied people and stuff, but when it’s really bad there should be action.”