When Scotsman Harry Campbell put pen to paper one cold winter's day in 1951, he was playing with fire.

Mr Campbell, of 43 George V Avenue, wrote: "Can you explain to me why all models displayed in drapers shops are made pretty and attractive, while in reality the majority of Worthing women are ugly and misshapen?"

The letter was published in the local Press, sparking uproar on an unprecedented scale.

Some people issued thinly-veiled threats of physical violence while others urged him to set up home in the Outer Hebrides.

Most readers were infuriated by Mr Campbell's remarks.

Christine Allen wrote: "As a native of Worthing I deny emphatically and with indignation Mr Campbell's assertion.

"I have many relatives and friends in this lovely town and to none of them does his description apply. Neither does it to themajority of Worthing's population.

"If Mr Campbell prefers women to look like models in a drapers shop, let him have them.

"They will probably be just as brainless. Every town holds its quota of poor unfortunate deformed folk and surely their lot is hard enough without such ungracious remarks."

Another protester, from West Worthing, said Mr Campbell's views had aroused great indignation, adding: "A sweet and generous disposition and a gracious personality are more to be prized than mere beauty of form and face."

Clement Allenby, of Sea Close, suggested he should wear a suit of armour in public for protection.

But Mr Campbell did get some support, with one correspondent adding fuel to the fire by rounding on fat women.

He wrote: "I must agree somewhat with him. During a long life I have never seen so many fat women as there are about today."

Mrs A Taylor was mortified, arguing: "The majority of women in Worthing have devoted the past ten years trying to obtain sufficient food for their menfolk, in addition to keeping their house in a presentable condition, frequently without help of any kind."

But Mr Campbell was having none of it and hit back: "Nature made most women ugly and the beauty specialists make them worse. A pretty girl or woman is a very rare sight. Many have ugly mouths, which they make worse by using a very brilliant red (lipstick)."

This was the final straw.

A writer who signed himself "An Englishman" replied: "I am reminded of the old adage 'fools rush in where angels fear to tread'.

There is nothing to prevent him from returning to his native land, which most Scots profess to love (and leave)."

A sailor by the name of Barnes, based at HMS Astute in Londonderry, said: "I should like to have him here for five minutes. My girl lives in Worthing and I can assure you she is neither ugly nor misshapen."

But Mr Campbell was undeterred and drew a cartoon showing dowdy-looking women peering through a shop window at elegant mannequins.

The caption stated: "But, my dear, we have intelligence and character."

Sadly, The Sentinel has no record of Mr Campbell's fate.