DEBBIE Hicks’ ill-advised comment following the terror attack in Manchester shows the dangers of social media.

This was a classic case of someone hastily posting something without really thinking about it and then almost immediately regretting it.

Even though Facebook posts can be deleted, you can’t stop someone from taking a screenshot of the message and then, all of a sudden, you have thousands of people condemning what you’ve said.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that Debbie Hicks is not ‘evil’ or a ‘monster’ as some people said, she is simply someone who said something foolish and then regretted it – as everyone has in their life.

Some people criticised the SNJ for reporting what she had written but, as a newspaper, part of our role in democracy is to hold politicians to account, and Debbie is vice-chair of Stroud Labour and stood for council election.

If a Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green or Ukip member had made the same comment, we would have covered the story in exactly the same way.

If a public figure who wants to represent the area does or says something offensive, we can't turn a blind eye just because reporting it will cause a storm.