James Campbell claims he was told he was no longer in his post at the B&M store in Renfrew Road, Paisley, on Monday morning.

The 21-year-old sparked fury after posting on social media forum Paisley Legends: “The EU has said more needs to be done to help the Syrian refugees, especially the children.” He then added: “Swimming lessons might be a start.” Someone was so angered by the post that they took a screenshot of James’ comments and emailed it to his workplace.

There are heightened sensitivities over the subject as shocking images of a drowned Syrian boy showed the tragic plight of the refugees.

The local authority have pledged to offer financial assistance through the Red Cross and practical assistance to help refugees in Renfrewshire.

But James defended the post yesterday, saying “It’s just my sense of humour,” and apologised to anyone it had offended.

A petition has now been launched in his defence after he claims to have been sacked because of the comment.

James had worked 30 hours each week within the store’s garden centre and says he was told during a phone call to his manager he had been sacked.

The Gazette contacted the retailer but a spokesman said he was unable to provide a response until later in the week.

James, though, is convinced he’s being unfairly treated and said he had no idea his ‘joke’ would cause such a storm.

“I’d like to apologise for the comment, I really didn’t mean any harm,” James said. “It’s just my dark sense of humour, but I had no idea it would make me lose my job.

“I think it’s unfair because I basically took on a supervisor role without extra pay, would always work on past my time to ensure that the garden centre was up to standard.” James, who has now been left with no income, believes he was sacked from his post after a text message from his former manager warned him to ‘keep off Facebook.’ Screenshots sent to The Gazette show text messages, which James claims to have been exchanged between him and his manager, which warn him to lay off social media.

One of the messages says: “Take that off your Facebook James, I’m not going to sack you, I suspended you for your safety and the store’s.

“Stop being an idiot and making it worse with Facebook man.” He claims the texts came after his manager suspended him for five days, assuring him he would not be sacked.

But James received a call on Monday morning telling him not to return to the store.

A friend of James has set up a petition online which says: “On Monday, September 14, a young man named James Campbell was sacked from his employment of three years at B&M Homestore for a harmless dark humoured joke posted on a Facebook Forum page.

“Although having an impeccable record and no black marks, he was instantly dismissed. This is a blatant disregard for his Right to Freedom of Speech and we are campaigning to set right this wrong.” The petition has more than 500 supporters, with many local residents coming to his defence.

One female supporter from Paisley commented: “I’m appalled at this poor boy being left unemployed because of a joke, will not be shopping in here again until this matter is resolved.”