A UK radio station has been forced to apologise after being accused of encouraging their listeners to troll and bully actress Helen Flanagan.

Manchester’s Key103 ran a poll on their website asking their audience if they “loved or loathed” the former Coronation Street star.

Similar comments relating to the poll were also made during the radio station’s breakfast show.

Listeners were not happy with the online poll and hit back at the station, accusing them of online bullying.

The station responded with a Key 103 spokesman saying:

“Yesterday some comments were made on air and on Facebook about Helen Flanagan and for that we sincerely apologise.  We are sorry for any offence this caused.”

“The wording of the posting was inappropriate and as soon as it was seen by our senior team at the station it was taken down.”

“We are now in discussions with the staff member responsible for the posting.”

Commenting on the apology, one Facebooker wrote:

"It's not about her. It's about the fact that a radio station thought it was justified in blatant cyber bullying. I wonder if there would've been an apology had there not been an uproar of protests and reports? Bang out of order. Ill bet you lost a lot of listeners yesterday. Shame on you. Apology should've come yesterday and the post removed. Too little too late."

While another person wrote:

"Good decision Key 103 but it took you too long to remove the post and far too long to apologise. You disappointed me yesterday. I hope you say or do something to Helen to make up for it."

The former soap star retweeted the apology from her Twitter account.