A PROSPECTIVE Tory councillor is under fire over social media posts found on his account.

By-election rivals the SNP called out Conservative candidate Dave Coleman after finding offensive comments on his Facebook page from 2010.

The Hillend resident, who will be contesting a seat in the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay by-election, accepted the comments were "daft".

Mr Coleman runs a construction consulting company and is currently vice-chair of Dalgety Bay Community Council as well as president of the town's cricket club

One post from April 2010 seemingly joking about disabilities says: "doesn't wear his helmet on the special bus, because it impedes my window-licking abilities".

Another says: "thinks his new PADDED ROOM and HUG-YOURSELF JACKET that the nice men in white coats gave his (sic) are so cool!! I'm just wondering if their (sic) gunna let me out ..?"

In recent weeks, Mr Coleman welcomed the arrival of discounted supermarkets like Aldi to Dalgety Bay saying they will be a "real boost to the local area".

But in a post from 2010, he appeared to think the opposite. It says: "chavs to the left of me, pikeys to the right ... here I am shopping in Lidls with you".

The SNP's candidate in the by-election, Neil Hanvey, said: “These offensive Facebook posts by the Scottish Tory candidate are totally unacceptable and not befitting of someone seeking public office.

“Dave Coleman should stand down from the contest at once – if not, then Ruth Davidson must remove him."

Mr Coleman said: "These were daft comments made as a joke eight years ago and I understand that this isn’t the kind of language expected of a councillor.

"I sincerely apologise to anyone upset by them."

The Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay by-election will take place on September 6.

It was triggered after Labour MP Lesley Laird stepped down from her role as a Fife councillor.