TWO Trowbridge women have leapt to the defence of suspended TV presenter Robert Kilroy-Silk.

The 61-year-old's daytime talk show, Kilroy, has been taken off the air by the BBC after he described Arabs as 'suicide bombers, limb-amputators and women-repressers' in a column in the Sunday Express.

Ann Hamilton and Sarah-Jane Newbury, who have both appeared on the show, have pledged their support to the presenter.

Miss Newbury said: "I am very distressed to think what is happening to Kilroy. The thing is he is not racist. It is being taken out of context."

She has written to the controller of the BBC, Greg Dyke, to call for the reinstatement of the presenter she describes as 'a good example of a human being'.

Ann Hamilton, grandmother of murdered schoolgirl Zoe Evans, said: "I cannot understand what all the fuss is about. Kilroy was very nice to me when I was talking about Zoe, he was supportive all the way through."

The presenter has apologised for any offence caused by the article.