Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read has apologised for "unintentionally causing offence" with his Ukip Calypso, sung with a mock Caribbean accent, adding that he has asked his record company to withdraw the song from sale.

The song, which praises the anti-EU party and its leader Nigel Farage, included the lyrics: "With the EU we must be on our mettle, want to change our lawnmowers and our kettles."

Read said: "I'm so sorry that the song unintentionally caused offence. That was never my intention and I apologise unreservedly if anyone has taken offence.

"I've asked the record company to withdraw the single immediately."

The song, which includes the line "when we take charge and the new prime minister is Farage", also criticised the Prime Minister.

Read, a former Conservative supporter, used the song to warn his listeners against trusting David Cameron, singing: "The British people have been let down, that's why Ukip is making ground. From Crewe to Cleethorpes, from Hull to Hendon, they don't believe Cameron's referendum."

Ukip blamed "synthetic outrage" for the decision - accusing "right on" critics of depriving a charity of cash to help the fight against Ebola.

The track was promoted by Mr Farage when it was released, with the politician urging his followers to help get it to number one and including a link to buy the song on Amazon, but it was dubbed racist by some critics.

Ukip said it regretted that Read had felt obliged to ask his record company to withdraw it from sale and said it would donate its share of the proceeds so far to the Red Cross to help make up for income the charity would miss from future sales.

"This is Mike's song and it is obviously his decision what to do with it," a party spokeswoman said.

"We do think it is a shame that he has been treated so harshly by many in the 'right on' media, but we respect his decision.

"We thought it was just a bit of fun, as did thousands of people, evidenced by how well it has been selling. Were it not for the synthetic outrage, the song would have generated a lot of money for charity, as profits were to be split with the Red Cross for their Ebola Outreach programme.

"It's a pity those so concerned with political correctness have trodden all over this."

The British Red Cross later said it had not been approached about benefiting from it and would not do so.

A spokeswoman said: "We will not be able to accept any money from the proceeds of this single.

"As a neutral organisation, we cannot benefit from something which overtly supports one political party. In addition, the Red Cross has a proud history of helping refugees and asylum seekers who are negatively referred to in the lyrics."

Ukip chairman Steve Crowther lashed out at the charity.

"We are staggered by their decision," he said in a statement.

"We regret that the British Red Cross think it's their place to put politics over saving people's lives. We will seek to donate all the money to another charity working to help tackle the tragic Ebola crisis in West Africa."

Read, who hosts an afternoon show on BBC Berkshire, spent more than a decade at Radio 1.

He hit the headlines in 1984 when he refused to play the Frankie Goes To Hollywood single Relax because he objected to its lyrics.

Read has also turned his hand to musicals, but his show about the life of writer Oscar Wilde closed after one night after dreadful reviews and poor ticket sales.