Shepherd Neame is pumping £500,000 into the return of its controversial campaign for Spitfire ale.

The Kent brewer has devised new creatives to continue its ‘Bottle of Britain’ theme, which sparked complaints because of its anti-Germanic sentiments.

The new ads will appear in the national press in two bursts either side of Christmas.

A cartoon of Adolf Hitler holding his groin with the tagline ‘Spot the ball’ will run in sports pages.

Shepherd Neame’s sales and marketing director, Mark McJennett, said: “We get overwhelming support for the humour we use.”