Pete Townshend apologises for swearing at seven-year-old girl at concert after she waves placard telling him to "Smash Your Guitar, Pete!"

The Who star Pete Townshend has apologised after swearing at a seven-year-old girl during his concert in Canada.

Jenny Costello was sat on her father's shoulders waving a sign that read "Smash Your Guitar, Pete!" in Hamilton, Ontario.

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But the guitarist took offense to the sign. Speaking into the microphone he said: "Go away with that sign please, just go away with it, just go away with it. Don't bring your children... I want to tell you two words but I can't because you've got a child there."

He then mouthed the words "F*** off".

The exchange took place at a concert by rock giants The Who on February 19.

Eric Costello, 50, the young girl's father, was shocked and dismayed by the British star's behaviour.

He told the 'Toronto Sun': "Nobody talks to my seven-year-old daughter like that. I expect a 70-something-year-old man to respect the fact there's a seven-year-old girl standing in front of him."

He revealed his daughter painted the placard herself and idolises the guitarist.

He added: "I'd like [Townshend] to know in some small way he broke a little girl's heart."

Townshend has wrote a letter to the young fan in apology.

The 67-year-old wrote: "Apologies and condolences from my side. I am most certainly not angry … I was not angry on stage either. I was in rock star mode, the big mouth."

He added: "I could have handled it differently."
Townshend plans to meet with the family in April.