A teacher from Truro has caused a furore by setting up a website promoting a fictional tourist beach in Cornwall and with a name that could well upset outsiders.

The site on Facebook, is already receiving thousands of hits after becoming a cult internet joke and has been mentioned numerous times on national radio programmes throughtout today.

The hoax suggests Porthemmet Beach on the north coast offers warm seas, dolphins and a coral reef. It was set up by Jonty Haywood a former student of Truro School now working in Thailand.

While the website appears to be encouraging tourists to the non-existent destination claiming it to be "the largest beach in the county," it also says it is "a designated Site of Amazing Natural Beauty" and an "unspoilt paradise" without police officers patrolling as "the local council decided that they distress elderly locals". It even says beach parties are often visited by some of Cornwall's most famous musicians and a local boat takes people to see a nearby puffin colony.

But it is doubtful the Cornish will be fooled. Look closely and it can be seen the name includes "emmet" a Cornish term for ant and often used to describe visitors.

The site has already drawn a number of comments although Malcolm Bell, director of South West Tourism said it was not overly insulting to the Cornish and should bring a smile to people's faces. Things may have been different a few years ago.

Jonty thinks the whole thing is funny and got the idea from another website. It was not intended to upset anyone.

What do you think? Comment below.