Cumbrian council leader Stewart Young is standing by his opposition to the Coca-Cola Christmas truck, despite the backlash.

He has been accused by some of adopting a "nanny state" mentality after urging the famous red wagon to stay away from the county.

But Labour's Mr Young, leader of Cumbria County Council and chairman of the county's health and wellbeing board, said tough action is needed to tackle the growing issue of childhood obesity across Cumbria.

Together with the county's public health chief, Colin Cox, he signed an open letter to the fizzy drinks giant urging it to rethink its popular Happy Holidays tour, which has previously visited the county.

Their comments - accusing Coca-Cola of using Christmas to market sugary drinks to children - have divided opinion, with many arguing the truck is a festive tradition and should be welcomed.

Some have used social media to hit out at the council leader, saying he should leave people to make their own decisions - including whether or not to take their children to see the truck.

Rival Tory councillors have taken to Twitter, with one even labelling Mr Young "the Grinch" over his stance.

James Airey, Conservative group leader on the county council - who represents Ulverston West, said: "This is the nanny state arriving in Cumbria and interfering in people's lives.

"It would be fantastic to see the truck in Cumbria. It's all about Christmas with the big glossy Christmas adverts and should be taken in that context. This letter is in really bad taste. It's a step too far to write to Coca-Cola and say don't come to Cumbria."

However others - including Carlisle City Council's health portfolio holder Lee Sherriff - have praised the letter, saying the truck has nothing to do with Christmas and is purely an advertising ploy.

Despite the backlash from many, Mr Young - who insisted he was not going to back down or resign - said he hopes the publicity, positive and negative, will help to get an important message across.

He stressed that he had not "banned" the truck from Cumbria, as some have suggested, as that was not in his power.

But he said as chairman of the local health and wellbeing board, he has a responsibility - and even an obligation - to take a stance against it, to try to reverse the current obesity trends.

"I've had letters and comments. I know people can get fed up of being told what to do, they'll say it's the nanny state, but we have responsibility for public health and we can't just sit back, knowing that further down the line it's going to cause all sorts of health problems," he said.

"At the end of the day nobody has banned Coke. We just want to put the facts in front of people. Does one can of Coke do any harm? No. Does one bag of chips or donut? No. But put them all together and it does. This is about the wider message we are trying to get across."

Labour's Miss Sherriff, communities, health and wellbeing portfolio holder at Carlisle City Council, said the issue is that the Coca-Cola tour, with its Santa truck, is largely aimed at children.

"Christmas to me is about families and getting together. It's not about the Coca-Cola truck coming to Carlisle or Cumbria," she said.

"Obviously adults have a choice about whether they drink Coke or not. We are not taking away that choice. It's about ensuring that people understand what is in these drinks, so they make informed choices.

"It's not just obesity, but also tooth decay. There are several teaspoons of sugar in a can of Coke. I was quite shocked how much. People say they do diet drinks, but even these drinks can dissolve tooth enamel."

She added: "I think it's good we are having this debate. It might help to get the information out there."

Asked whether he felt the truck was there to market the fizzy drink to children, Mr Airey said he did not see it that way.

"Children see Father Christmas and the huge red wagon. I don't think they will rush out and buy a can of Coke.

"As parents, we have a chat with our kids so they can make that choice. We have to trust young people," he said.

Cumbria is not the first council to oppose the Coca-Cola tour. Others, including Liverpool, have also sent letters.

The company insists it only gives out small samples of its drinks on the tour and also offers low sugar versions.