The BBC has apologised after Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson described a car as "special needs".

Broadcasting watchdog Ofcom investigated after the joke, made by Clarkson, who lives in Chipping Norton, about a Ferrari owned by co-host James May, provoked complaints.

He compared the F430 Speciale to a newer model, saying the car "was a bit wrong - that smiling front end - it looked like a simpleton - should have been called the 430 Speciale Needs".

Charities criticised the remark, with the National Autistic Society saying it perpetuated "the prejudice and bullying which people with disabilities have to cope with".

The BBC removed the joke from the repeat and iPlayer versions of the BBC2 show and apologised for any offence caused.

It said the remark was not intended to make light of those with special educational needs or to make fun at their expense.

Ofcom has said it recognised that "discriminatory language of this nature has the potential to be very offensive to some viewers as it could be seen to single out certain sections of society in a derogatory way because of their disability."

It added: "The comments made by Jeremy Clarkson in this instance were capable of causing offence."

It said: "While obviously intended as a joke and not aimed directly at an individual with learning difficulties, the comment could easily be understood as ridiculing people in society with a particular physical disability or learning difficulty."

It concluded that because the BBC had apologised, decided not to repeat the comment, and said it was not intended to make fun of those with special needs, the case was resolved.