Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has been forced to apologise after her comments about Scotland’s World Cup bank holiday resulted in an avalanche of complaints.

Regulator Ofcom confirmed on Wednesday it had received 508 complaints about the episode on June 9.

It said they ‘related to comments made during a discussion about the Scottish World Cup Bank Holiday’.

Ms Reid and co-presenter Ed Balls chatted about the fact Scots were given an extra day off to celebrate the national side’s return to the football tournament after 28 years.

Former MP Mr Balls said: ‘This morning, in our five o’clock meeting, Susanna said, “I can’t believe this, the game’s on the Sunday morning, and they get bank holiday 24 hours later”.

‘I said, “What?”. I couldn’t believe it. It never occurred to me that that was going on.’

Ms Reid replied: ‘It’s really outrageous. I mean, how long does it take Scots to get over the fact that they’ve played their first match?’

The comments went viral on social media with angry Scots branding the discussion ‘poor taste’.

She ate humble pie on Monday – when many north of the Border enjoyed the day off – and said: ‘My Scottish ancestors would be turning in their graves, I can only apologise.

‘Let me say, it’s outrageous that not everyone in Scotland has got today off as a bank holiday.’

ITV also released a statement amid the backlash.

It said: ‘The editorial team feel discussion of the fact that some football fans would be drinking alcohol while watching the match is something that would be referenced in the discussion of any home nation’s participation in an international tournament.

‘No slight was intended toward Scottish fans in particular – it was more a reflection of football watching culture in the UK.’

The broadcaster said that many clips shared online were ‘edited’ and did ‘not represent the full four-minute’ chat.

It added: ‘Having reviewed the full segments, our feeling is that the issue of drinking and football would have been raised in a discussion of any home nation having an extra day off work following a game.

‘We do note, however, that such discussions can play into national stereotypes. This was not the intention, and in no way was the focus of the discussion.’