KATIE Hopkins has lashed out at a council after being banned from speaking at a political event.

The controversial columnist tossed around playground insults and mocked the size of Eastbourne Borough Council members’ genitalia in a foul-mouthed Tweet on Tuesday.

She said: “Eastbourne Council say I am a public safety hazard.

“Best get your yellow vests and hard hats on you utter c***wombles.

“It will take more than willy waving your tiny chipolatas to silence Katie Hopkins.”

Mrs Hopkins, 44, had been due to give a speech at the Ukip South East regional one-day conference at the newly opened Welcome Building in Eastbourne, which is owned by the council.

But it banned her from the venue saying the safety of people in the area could be put at risk.

The event itself has also now been cancelled by the venue due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

A council spokesman said: “The council has been made aware that Katie Hopkins was due to speak at a one-day conference organised by Ukip in Eastbourne in July.

“After consulting with our partners and the conference organisers, it has been decided that her speech will not go ahead.

“Mindful of the inflammatory and, to many, deeply offensive comments made by this speaker previously, the decision was made to avoid risks to people and property as a result of any action designed to disrupt the event.”

Eastbourne Borough Council was contacted in relation to Mrs Hopkins’ insults directed at it since its original announcement but said it had nothing further to add at this time.

Also on Tuesday, Mrs Hopkins posted a second Tweet suggesting she would still be travelling to the seaside town, where protesters had planned to turn out in force to object to her presence.

In a post addressed to Eastbourne Police and Eastbourne Borough Council she said: “Are you ready for the weekend?

“You said I was a safety hazard. Prepare yourselves.”

Ukip also commented on Mrs Hopkins’ ban on its social media platforms, calling it a “disgrace”.

It said the ban was “political interference from those who wish to keep us silent”.

This is not the first time Mrs Hopkins has been met with a frosty reception in Sussex.

She was due to talk at Lewes Speakers Festival in 2017 but her appearance was cancelled after protesters took to the streets.

After seeing the former Apprentice contestant in the town, people gathered outside the All Saints Centre. Police said Mrs Hopkins had left the building and that her talk was cancelled due to concerns for her safety.

She claimed one of her bodyguards was injured during the protest.