Beverly Whalings, a mayor of the small town of clay in  West Virginia has been forced to resign after applauding a racist Facebook post where Michelle Obama was described as an “ape in heels”.

Clay County Development Corp. director Pamela Ramsey Taylor had after Donald Trump’s victory posted, “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”

Whaling had responded, “Just made my day Pam”.

Although both women deleted their comments, Facebook took down their pages.

It was gathered that Taylor has been removed from her position and Whaling had apologized and resigned.

The furor over the racist comment, and the mayor’s seemingly agreeable response, prompted an online petition drive to have the two women ousted.

The text on www.thepetitionsite.com gathered nearly 160,000 signatures from across the country.