Two friends have been branded racist after 'blacking up' as tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams for a carnival parade.

Kevin Stevens, 50, a local pub landlord, and his friend Jason Luke, 31, a builder, covered themselves in dark fake tan, brown face paint and afro wigs to join a tennis-themed carnival float.

They put on women's sports gear and were photographed posing enthusiastically with tennis rackets at the procession in Truro last weekend. Mr Stevens also sported a pair of fake breasts for the event.

but have been lambasted by onlookers and racism campaigners. Their costumes were branded offensive, out of date and inappropriate.

THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG.

In actual fact, the pair from RedruthCornwallwas raising money for CLIC SARGENT. A charity forchildren'scancer.

Both men are actively involved in the community and beingportrayedlike this in local and national papers is wrong and it is bullying.

Please sign this petition if you feel that the papers should give these two men anapologyin which they deserve.