A SCHOOL has accused Bob Geldof of giving its pupils a "slap in the face" by describing their home town as "ugly".

The gauntlet has been thrown down by Harstdown school head Andy Somers and his students, following the former Boomtown Rats singer’s disparaging description of Margate in the Kent County Council free newspaper Around Kent.

Mr Somers said: “I want Bob Geldof to visit us and talk to the students. Let them show him their world, share in their hopes and aspirations, and act as an inspiration.”

Referring to the contrasts in the county he loves, Mr Geldof wrote: “It’s a mad mystery, the battle of the ugliness of Margate against the charm of the beaches.”

His comments have already provoked a strong reaction from Thanet council leader Sandy Ezekiel and North Thanet MP Roger Gale, and now Mr Somers wants Mr Geldof to see what the youth of Margate has to offer first hand.

Mr Somers said: “This is just another slap for the kids of Margate, to be told by somebody they respect that their home is ugly. Many of them will not have the overall resources to move out of the town and will live and work here.

“We have many intelligent, kind and generous young people at our college who regularly raise money for the kind of the charities that Bob Geldof encourages people to support.”

Mr Somers hopes the Live Aid founder will visit the college and meet the students and even have a look around their radio and music studios.

He added: “Bob Geldof has always challenged preconceptions of the world through his music and campaigning; now we are challenging him. We all hope he accepts.”

Mr Geldof, who holds an honorary knighthood and is known affectionately as Sir Bob, has lived at Davington Priory in Faversham for 23 years.

In his description of Kent he says: “I know it’s a bit scruffy and worn at the edges and some of its ugliness is inexcusable, but some of it is cute and some of it is so sublimely beautiful, it’s ridiculous.”