Directors of a travel company that sent customers an email promising chav-free holidays have defended the move.

The email, sent out by Activities Abroad, included a list of names travellers were likely to encounter on one of their holidays and another list they would be less likely to meet.

Among the unlikely names were Britney, Kylie-Lianne, Dazza and Shannon.

The likely names included John, Sarah, James and Alice.

The email, headed "Chav Free Activity Holidays", was signed off "Nuff said, innit? The Activities Abroad Team".

Company director Barry Nolan said: "It was a tongue-in-cheek email sent out to just over 24,000 people and less than 0.1%, 18 people, have replied via email saying they were disappointed with it."

Mr Nolan, who said many of his friends called him Bazza, said the email should be put into perspective.

He added: "At least one name was made up. If you find a Kylie-Lianne living in the UK good luck."

One blogger, writing at adifferentvoice.wordpress.com, said they would not use the company again after receiving the email.

They wrote 'If I ever had any doubts (which I haven't) about banning the C-- word in our house, I need look no further. Don't ever let anybody tell you that class is not a live issue in Britain'.

Writing in the blog's comments sections, Activities Abroad director Alistair McLean apologised for any offence caused by the email.

He wrote: "However, I simply feel it is time the middle classes stood up for themselves.

"We work hard to make a decent home and life for our families and we pay our taxes to contribute to our society and economy. Unfortunately, everybody else in our society seems to take from us whether it is incompetent bankers or the shell-suited urchins who haunt our street corners."

He added: "So regardless of whether it is class warfare or not I make no apology for proclaiming myself to be middle class and a genuine contributor to our society."

The Activities Abroad website says the company, based in Stannington, Northumberland, organises holidays in destinations including Europe, South Africa and Canada.

It says 'On our activity breaks you will always find a welcoming and convivial atmosphere awaiting you amongst people who share your interest in an active outdoor lifestyle - whether it is dog sledding with your own team of huskies whilst searching for the Northern Lights in Lapland or White Water Rafting in Slovenia'.