The BBC has come under fire after an article published about Sir John Eliot Gardiner referred to the conductor as a "Dorset farmer".

Dorset Echo: The Broadcaster posted the tweet earlier this morningThe Broadcaster posted the tweet earlier this morning (Image: Twitter)

The headline for the article wrote: "Dorset farmer to conduct music at King's coronation."

The article comes after Sir John, from Fontmell Magna, has been chosen as a conductor for the King's coronation later this year.

The article and the tweet posted on social media led to criticism from readers who believed that the headline was trivialising the achievements of Sir John.

Dorset Echo: User's gave their sarcastic responses to the articleUser's gave their sarcastic responses to the article (Image: Twitter)

Dorset Echo: Users vented their anger at the tweetUsers vented their anger at the tweet (Image: Twitter)

Dorset Echo: Users wrote about their confusion Users wrote about their confusion (Image: Twitter)

One user wrote: "Well known Dorset farmer John Eliot Gardiner".

Another wrote: "Hi BBC News, you spelt Experienced, professional musician wrong."

While one user wrote: "One of the UK's leading classical conductors (who also owns a farm) described as a "farmer".

Sir John Eliot Gardiner is a well-known and well-respected musician and conductor and has been a regular guest of the world's leading symphony orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra.

Alongside his composing works Sir John runs an organic farm at Springhead near Fontmell Magna near Shaftesbury where he is also a patron of the Springhead charity.

Dorset Echo: Users took to twitter to complain about the headlineUsers took to twitter to complain about the headline (Image: Twitter)

Another user said: "The framing kind of suggests the writer wasn't aware local boy John is a strong candidate for world's most important conductor of the past 50 years."

The BBC has been contacted for comment.