FORMER England and Lancashire cricket star Andrew Flintoff has knocked Burnley people for six with a series of jibes about the town.

Flintoff, known as ‘Freddie’ to cricket fans around the world, made the remarks on his Twitter account on Monday night.

Talking about Prince William’s visit to Lancashire, he wrote: “The Prince went to Blackburn but drew the line at Burnley, no six finger handshakes from the dingles for Wills.”

After receiving replies from Burnley people sticking up for their town, he said that most people from Burnley couldn’t read and had “extra thumbs”.

When Burnley and England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson joined the debate to defend his home town, Flintoff asked him if he needed special batting gloves for his extra fingers and urged his followers to give Anderson a 'high six'.

He then told Anderson to “put all your thumbs away, close your eye and go to sleep.”

Anderson responded by telling Flintoff, who was born and raised in Preston, that he had deserted his home city for a mansion in Surrey and now supported Manchester City at football too.

Flintoff’s comments were criticised by the leader of Burnley Borough Council, Coun Charlie Briggs.

He said: “He doesn’t even live in Preston, he moved away.

“He’s not even a Preston fan, he supports a Manchester team, so I don’t know why he is bothered about Burnley.

“I’m sure it was just a bit of mick-taking and it sounds like Burnley folk gave him a bit back.

“All I can do is stick my six fingers up to him.”