Kent brewery Shepherd Neame is at the centre of a race row after an advert for one of its beers was refused permission to be broadcast on TV.

The sketch, which stars comic duo Armstrong and Miller, makes reference to "Poles" and "Paddies" laying patios.

Watchdog Clearcast - the agency that decides which adverts can be broadcast on television - declined the Faversham brewery's bid to air the controverisal ad.

"That's like stereotyping a whole people by profession… anyways it's the Paddies what does the building isn't it?" - Ben Miller's character in banned Spitfire advert

Now the Federation of Irish Societies has slammed the sketch's stereotypes, calling them "disappointing, outdated and unfunny".

But at the launch of the new Spitfire Ale ad campaign, it was revealed Shepherd Neame plans to launch the advert online later in the year instead.

Four approved adverts will be shown on television in the first three weeks of July.

They feature Armstrong and Miller in their guise as RAF characters from their BAFTA-winning BBC comedy show Armstrong and Miller.

In the banned ad, Alexander Armstrong refers to the "Poles from Poland or Russia or something like that" and asks a Polish soldier whether he could work on his nan's patio.

Ben Miller then goes on to explain in the sketch that it is "the Paddies what does the building isn't it?"

The Federation of Irish Societies has said the ad reflects badly on those who buy the ale.

Chief executive Jennie McShannon said: "It is disappointing to see once again outdated and unfunny stereotypes being used to sell products.

"In our view this ad reflects badly on consumers of Spitfire, as if they will find these tongue_in-cheek assumptions about Irish and Polish people funny.

"Tongue-in-cheek means not to be taken seriously. Where does Spitfire draw a line?"

In the advert, Alexander Armstrong's RAF pilot character says to a Polish soldier: "Listen blud, is you like one of them geezers that's like a Pole from Poland or Russia or something place like that?"

General Vladimir Zhigorski replies: "I am General Vladimir Zhigorski, Supreme Commander in Chief of free Polish forces, yes."

Then Armstrong says: "Only my nan's patio needs doing and I thought we could do, like, a deal for cash?"

And comedian Ben Miller's character chips in: "Man, you can't say that, that's just wrong. That's like stereotyping a whole people by profession… anyways it's the Paddies what does the building isn't it?"

The ale, which was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and markets itself as the bottle of Britain, is already well known for its war-era humour, with previous taglines including Downed all over Kent, Just like the Luftwaffe and No Nazi Aftertaste.

Shepherd Neame spokesman David Netherton defended the ad as part of the long history of tongue-in-cheek humour.

He said: "The campaign juxtaposes old and new using modern day street language and commentary in a historical setting.

"The Armstrong and Miller RAF pilot characters are the focus of each advert and their stereotypical perceptions and street vernacular is intended to be the comical subject rather than the subject matter itself."