#UkipWeather: Drive Launched to get Gay Anthem It's Raining Men to No 1

A campaign to get the disco classic It's Raining Men by the Weather Girls back into the pop charts has been launched after a Ukip councillor suggested that the 2012 UK floods had been caused by the legalisation of gay marriage.

More than 3,000 people have supported the cause on Facebook, which aims to reintroduce the song to the charts.

Campaigners told the Sun: "For decades now, this song has been used as a gay anthem.

"We thought it fitted all the better, based on Ukip's comments regarding storms and floods being caused by LGBT people and gay marriage.

"We believe that the show of strength to get a song to No 1 will create a huge spotlight on our campaign for equality as a whole.

"The song, if you like, is our catalyst and part of the bigger message."

David Silvester, who defected from the Conservatives in 2012, claimed the flooding that had devastated large parts of the UK in December were instigated by "God's wrath" over same-sex marriage.

He said: "Since the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act, the nation has been beset by serious storms and floods. One recent one caused the worst flooding for 60 years. The Christmas floods were the worst for 127 years. Is this just global warming or is there something more serious at work?"

Critics turned to social media sites to express their disgust at the comments. A new account, called #UkipWeather, was set up in mockery of Silvester's comments. You can read our pick of the top tweets here.