A FACEBOOK account claiming to promote awareness of a vegan and organic plant based diet has met with fierce criticism, following a series of social media posts.

Pembrokeshire Vegan Organic, which has just 258 followers, has hit national headlines after stating the "promotion of gay and trans is the promotion of sexual development disorders" and that sexual development is affected by "environmental pollutants".

Further claims, which have since been removed, said "teaching gender in schools is the most backwards and corrupt system possible".

"Forcing children to consider gender education, from a younger age, is not positive," another reads.

"Male and female is natural reproductive development, this is not a religious view, only biological.

"People should be free to live how they would naturally develop without manipulation."

The page's claims have angered equality supporters and vegans alike.

Vicki Seglin said: "I am horrified that a group labeling itself as vegan would be so ignorant of basic biology as well as compassion.

"Please know that this is not at all representative of the vegan community."

Facebook user Huw Cook described the posts as "hate speech posed as factual information that is both harmful and disruptive to the progress being made for both the LGBT+ community and the vegan community."

A spokesman for Pembs LGBTQ Plus, a group set up earlier this year to provide support and social opportunities for member of the LGBTQ+ community, said: "We were made aware of this page earlier this week, and have been monitoring it.

"Many of the posts were offensive on a number of levels, including to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

"Following last weekend's Pride protest in Fishguard we understand the strength of feeling locally, and people's opposition to the Pembrokeshire Vegan Organic page and the views expressed on it.

"We have been encouraged by the opposition to these bizarre views, and heartened that several comments have now been removed following complaints from our members.

"However, we understand the page is run by one individual, and have faith their opinion is not shared by the wider community.

"Therefore we have urged our members to limit the sharing of these potentially damaging and hurtful posts.

"We want the spotlight to be on the achievements of our growing network of supporters, not the views of one misguided individual."