LGBT charity Stonewall condemned a BBC local radio station yesterday for asking its listeners whether so-called gay “conversion therapy” is acceptable.

BBC Radio Kent asked its followers on Twitter whether the practice, which can involve using hypnosis and electric shocks to “cure” homosexuality, was acceptable, despite it having been widely discredited as unethical.

GP Ranj Singh, who is the resident doctor on ITV’s This Morning programme, told the BBC Breakfast show that the “therapy” was akin to psychological abuse and should be made illegal.

The discussion was prompted by calls for the government to impose a ban.

After posting the poll on its Twitter page, BBC Kent apologised and said it had deleted the tweet.

Stonewall said: “LGBT people aren’t ill. Being gay, lesbian, bi or trans is not something that should be cured or changed.

“This harmful and degrading practice has been condemned by major health organisations.

“It’s unbelievable the BBC think this is a suitable topic for discussion or believe it's appropriate for an online opinion poll.”

The radio programme said the poll had breached its own guidelines and apologised for the offence caused.