The Apprentice villain Katie Hopkins has been sacked from writing a weekly column in her local newspaper - by readers.

Hundreds of readers of Exeter's Express and Echo fired the former TV show contestant with 84 per cent voting in an on-line poll to dump her weekly column after she wrote about the joys of owning a windbreak.

The mother-of-two, 32, who turned down a final place in TV show The Apprentice, was defiant in her defeat.

"People are always quick to knock those who are successful," said Hopkins, who lives near Exeter.

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The Apprentice contestant Katie Hopkins has been sacked by the Express and Echo in Exeter after an overwhelming majority (84 per cent) of readers wanted her to lose her column

"Those who are in opposition are always more ready to make their voices heard than those in support.

"I'm glad I had the moral courage to put myself up there and I will continue to do so."

This is not the first time she has been fired from her job.

In May she was caught in an embarrassing romp in a field with a married man, Mark Cross, whom she recently revealed she will be marrying next year when his divorce is finalised.

After pictures of the indiscreet couple stripping off were published in the national press, Hopkins was sacked from her £90,000 brand consultant role at Devon's Meteorological Office.

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The notorious picture of Hopkins and husband-to-be Mark Cross. She bragged on The Apprentice of stealing three men from their wives

As for losing her current job, Hopkins said she was not fazed by the overwhelmingly negative reaction to her column.

Nor was she bothered by those readers who thought they could out-do her in the 'My column's better than Katie's' series.

She said: "If people would rather read about jumble sales and village fetes, instead of what I've got to say that's their choice.

"I enjoyed the work and appreciate the people who supported me, but I have plenty of other things to be getting on with."

Hopkins said her self-confidence was not weakened by another firing.

"I'm good at what I do and people like me, who work hard, are successful.

"People like me polarise opinion. I would never want to be someone who people could not remember the name of.

"People either love me or loathe me."

And loathe her the Echo readers did. A massive 341 people voted to give Katie the boot with only 66 seeking a reprieve.

Celia Hitchings, who complained to the Echo the week after Katie's first column said: "She should not have been employed in the first place.

"She's making a name for herself and she shouldn't be.

"I watched her on The Apprentice and I thought the way she treated other people was appalling."

Echo editor Marc Astley said the readers' decision was final.

"It was my decision to hire Katie and I do not regret that.

"I did not always agree with what she wrote but neither do I agree with many of the letters we publish.

"However this newspaper belongs to the readers and as Katie had sparked so much controversy I thought it only fair that they should decide her fate," said Mr Astley.

"The result of the vote is unequivocal and so, true to my word, her column will appear no more."