Russell Brand has caused offence in the Cardiff district of Tremorfa, by branding everyone in it a thief.

According to the South Wales Echo, he was performing a gig in St. David's Hall, in front of a crowd of 1,000 people. As part of his act he read an article from the Sunday edition of the Cardiff Post, about the theft of £500 from Tremorfa's Baden Primary School.

Brand then called South Wales Police on a mobile phone that belonged to a member of the audience, and told a female civilian operator that he had information about the crime. When asked for the information, he responded, "Well, it could have been anyone in Tremorfa really. They are all criminals." The crowd laughed.

The main criticism has come from Tremorfa councillor Clarissa Holland, 32. She said, "I am outraged. He was just doing it for a cheap laugh. If he was any sort of man he would make a donation to the school. I will now be contacting him myself and asking him to put his hand in his pocket. Tremorfa is a fantastic community, with the finest and best people you could ever hope to meet. It's a slur."

Another resident of Tremorfa, retired steelworker Viv Bailey, 78, said, "I can see the funny side. I would be inclined to laugh it off as I don't think he truly identified everybody in Tremorfa as being criminals."

A spokesman for South Wales Police told the press, "We regularly issue appeals through the media encouraging the public to contact us with information. On this occasion the call operator, under very difficult circumstances, dealt with the situation very well."