Lee Hurst is back on Twitter after Greta Thunberg joke suspension

Comedian Lee Hurst has returned to Twitter after being suspended over a vile joke about climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Hurst, 57, tweeted a vulgar joke about Thunberg, 18, that saw him temporarily suspended from the social media platform.

It read: "As soon as Greta discovers c***, she'll stop complaining about the single use plastic it's wrapped in."

Watch: Thunberg awarded Gold Blue Peter badges

The tweet sparked complaints about abuse and harassment of the Swedish teenager, known globally for campaigning on environmental issues since she was a child.

Hurst, who used to be a panellist on They Think It's All Over, refused to apologise for his joke and since returning to Twitter has accused those offended by it of lacking a sense of humour.

He tweeted: "I’m sorry there are so many po faced, humourless losers who have all, at some point in their dreary lives, told a joke that someone somewhere took offence to and are then hypocritical enough to join in a pile on like the sad poseurs they are."

Replying to some of his fans' comments, he added: "Comedy is subjective so some like it, some don’t. That’s the way it is," and: "And the offence is taken, not given."

Amongst those appalled by the joke were Jeremy Vine and David Baddiel.

Vine tweeted: "I really wish I hadn't looked to see why Lee Hurst is trending."

Baddiel wrote: "The reason that Lee Hurst is problematic isn't because it carries underneath it a sense that women, as individuals, with political opinions, are erased by male sexual power. It's problematic because it's a s*** gag."

At the time of his suspension, Hurst had told the Daily Star: "If I’m binned permanently then I suppose I’m glad I was binned for writing a gag rather than for having a rant.

Read more: Twitter shares tumble after Trump ban

"No regrets. It got laughs."

Hurst and his representatives have been contacted for comment.

Watch: Greta Thunberg and the Black Lives Matter protests