MORE outrage has poured onto the Lewes Bonfire celebrations as Russian social media users spoke out against two giant caricatures of Vladimir Putin. 

The pair of towering effigies were towed through the town by the Lewes Borough Bonfire Society and the Cliffe Bonfire Society as part of their traditional November 5 festivities. 

Cliffe's saw Putin standing bare chested with a rifle, parodying his famous Siberian photoshoot, with his boot rested on a crashed Malaysian Airlines MH17 which was allegedly shot down by pro-Russian rebels over Ukraine.

Lewes Borough's effigy featuring the Russian president wearing a “mankini” and flexing while sat astride a tank.

The Kremlin did not comment on the effigies, but Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said on Thursday the president was often targeted by the West because he was a powerful leader.

To reporters in Moscow, Mr Peskov said: “A strong leader capable of consolidating a significant part of society around him, the majority of society, is of course uncomfortable for those who would prefer to deal with a pliable Russia, which she is not.”

The effigies however sparked outrage on social media. 

One user said “this is what people get up to when they've got nothing better to do” while another posted “idiots, it was the Ukrainian Armed Forces who shot down MH17”.

A writer on American website Sign of the Times said “it's really not surprising that this pathetic and ignorant display occurred in the UK” and slammed the display as carried out by “idiot Brits”.

One user apparently based in the UK said: “That seems to trivialise deaths of more than 200 people, although I'm sure not the intention.”

Others however praised the societies' efforts described them as “quality”, “ace” and “satisfying” and hailed their “good work”.

Lewes Borough Bonfire Society tweeted: “Bonfire is about celebrating rebellion and free speech. You don't have to agree.”

The outcry follows controversy closer to home as effigies of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond created

by the Waterloo and Commercial Square bonfire societies sparked fury from Scots.

Sussex Police received complaints about the effigies of the Leader of the Scottish National Party and a decision was taken by Waterloo Bonfire Society to pull their model from the celebrations.

The Commercial Square Bonfire Society however went ahead and successfully “detonated” their caricature.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said they were "not aware of any" complaints against the effgies of Putin.