Wigan Pier is one of the UK's top heritage tourist attractions

A Keep Britain Tidy executive has been suspended from her job after slating the organisation's home town of Wigan.

Assistant chief executive Sue Nelson told a London conference the Greater Manchester town was "the arse-end of the world".

Her comments were reported in a trade magazine and she was suspended, pending a disciplinary inquiry.

Ms Nelson and the organisers of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign have apologised for causing offence.

Ms Nelson also allegedly told delegates: "London is the financial capital - Wigan is the pie capital."

A short report on her speech was made in the weekly Regeneration and Renewal magazine, which is sent out to councils and has a readership of more than 20,000.

WIGAN FACTS The town covers 77 sq miles and has 90,000 residents Famous Wigan foods include baked beans, Uncle Joe's Mintballs and De Roma ice cream The Verve, George Formby, Sir Ian McKellen and Roy Kinnear all come from Wigan The term "pie-eaters" derives from miners eating "humble pie" when they returned to work after their 1920s' strike Wigan Pier has won 17 national tourism awards Well-known Wigan firms include Heinz, JJB Sports, Girobank and Tote

A spokesman for the magazine said a letter from Ms Nelson apologising for her comments was due to published in Friday's edition.

He said: "We believe that Sue's comments, though misjudged, were made in a light-hearted spirit and that's how we treated them.

"She already seems to have paid the price with all the negative publicity and, to be fair to her, has immediately apologised in a letter to the magazine."

ENCAMS said Ms Nelson had been suspended from her post "pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation".

A joint statement issued by Alan Woods, the chief executive of Encams, which organises the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, and Steve Jones, chief executive at Wigan Council, said that the comments were "not remotely representative of Wigan, or its people."

Mr Woods added: "Unfortunately, off-the-cuff comments made by one of our staff have not portrayed our home town in the best light - and we are deeply sorry for the offence that has caused.

'Pride in Wigan'

"Obviously, we are keen to learn lessons and build bridges with the people of Wigan who have, during our 17-year stay here, made us so welcome."

The headquarters of Keep Britain Tidy is at Wigan Pier, which has been redeveloped over recent years.

Mr Jones added: "The council and ENCAMS will continue to work closely together.

"We both have the same objectives and the same pride in Wigan, and we will not be distracted by ill-judged remarks which do not represent the reality of modern Wigan - or the views of ENCAMS."