He's a controversial figure, loved by some and hated by other, but now the residents of a Sussex market town have given their verdict on First Minister Alex Salmond.

A guy of the First Minister has been unveiled as the centrepiece of the prestigious Lewes bonfire celebrations.

The official East Sussex County Council Twitter account tweeted a picture of the effigy, which includes Nessie and a 45% symbol, with the message "A sneak preview of Alex Salmond and Nessie ahead of tonight's bonfire in Lewes - it just rolled up at County Hall."

The First Minister also made a list of possible guys for the Edenbridge Bonfire Society's celebrations in Kent but was pipped to the post by former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The unveiling of the bonfire celebration centrepiece provoked anger on Twitter.

Ross Matthews tweeted: "@EastSussexCC completely enraged by your anti scottish behaviour. Will not be visiting East Sussex again."

David McElroy tweeted: "@EastSussexCC What have you been drinking down there to think this was a good idea?"

Finlay Harris tweeted: "@EastSussexCC are you honestly burning an effigy of Alex Salmond...?? What an abhorrent thing to do..."

Lynsey Macfadyen tweeted: "@EastSussexCC that is utterly disgraceful! What if Scotland were to burn thatcher or Cameron? We'd get hate but naw it's okay for you?"

Alex Cox tweeted: "@EastSussexCC Burning the man who tried to break Westminster? You don't really *get* Guy Fawkes' Night, do you?"

Lewes Bonfire is a series of celebrations in the East Sussex town which form what it says is the UK's largest and most famous Guy Fawkes Night festivities, with Lewes laying claim to the title of Bonfire capital of the world.

The event not only marks the date of the uncovering of the Gunpowder plot in 1605, but also commemorates the memory of 17 Protestant martyrs from the town who were burned at the stake in the 16th century.

There are six societies putting on five separate parades and firework displays: this can mean 3000 people taking part in the celebrations, and up to 80,000 spectators attending in the small market town, which has a population of just under 16,000.