A FREE speech row has erupted over anti-women and anti-abortion signs in a Lake District town centre.

A Workington preacher was seen in Keswick on Friday displaying a sign which has caused much controversy throughout the town, with accusations of 'hate speech' from some local residents.

Grace Baptist Church, Workington preacher Dale McAlpine is known for his ‘controversial' views. He stood in the town centre with a sign quoting a passage from the bible which suggested women in church should be silent.

One Keswick resident said: “It is quite disgusting that this sign was displayed in Keswick earlier today, all the more appalling when you see it is done in the name of a 'church'.

“To be clear this is not 'convention' - the person that does this has been here before and his 'church' is in Workington.

"Well done to everyone who stands up to this filth and hate.”

The messages have coincided with the Keswick Ministries organised convention in the town, which is a gathering of thousands of Christians annually in the town.

In a statement on social media, Keswick Ministries said: “We would like to clarify that the 'street preacher' in Keswick has no connection with Keswick Ministries.

“A billboard was likely chosen to oppose Convention as our platform speaker last night was a woman, a theologian from Egypt. We are working with the police to monitor this situation.”

In response to the outrage at preaching in the town centre, Mr MacAlpine was unapologetic for his views.

He said: “There was many people who come to us pleased that we were there, some lovely Christian ladies applauding the message.

“So, it’s not just a blanket of everybody in Keswick hated what I was saying that day and objected to that sign.

“Some people were unhappy with it and some people weren’t, there was a mixed response.

“I would say to people who were offended by that sign and that particular text, it was God’s work, God’s text, we are responsible for what we do with god’s word.

“It’s important to mention that that message was meant for in the Church.”

Mr MacAlpine also made clear that there is no connection with Keswick Ministries.

On social media, the sign was condemned but discussions arose over freedom of speech. "Everyone else should just walk on by and ignore as well," one person wrote. "Just because you don’t like it or don’t want to hear it, doesn’t give you the right to stop it."

Separately, earlier in the week, a controversial billboard was also displayed on Main Street, Keswick which showed a ten-week-old foetus as part of an anti-abortion campaign from CBR UK.

The image drew criticism from residents over its graphic nature.

In response to criticisms of signs of this nature, a spokesman for CBRUK said previously: "Our public education displays show large images of living and aborted babies so the general public are informed of the humanity of the unborn child and the reality of abortion.

"We believe ALL human beings have value and deserve the right to life including the most vulnerable and voiceless children in the womb."