Simone Cox posted the insulting messages on her Facebook page during a night at work at a South Yorkshire care home.

And she refused to take them down even after a relative complained.

Last night Ms Cox was suspended from her job at Chapel Garth residential care home in Bentley, Doncaster, after The Star told her employers about the online posts, some of which were menacing to residents, many of whom suffer dementia.

One of the comments, posted by Ms Cox at midnight using her mobile phone, read: "What a f*****g night. Only been here three hours and have already been pinched and bruised, kicked and punched and had water thrown at me, lil t***s!"

Ms Cox has worked the late shift at the privately-owned home since April and was still on her probationary period at the time.

She later wrote that a resident had poured a bucket of water over another staff member.

She also complained about the pay and questioned: "Should we have to put up with these abusive lil s***s."

And the following morning she said she was "home now out the way before I killed one of the lil s***s".

Ms Cox told The Star she remembered making the comments, adding she was "very stressed" at the time.

"I was stressed and having a lot to do at work," she said.

In a further Facebook comment Ms Cox claimed she liked her job, despite her foul-mouthed tirade.

"I really like my job, not every night is like that," she wrote. "Must have been a full moon or summat."

A relative of Ms Cox said she asked her to remove the comments from her Facebook profile "as they are abusive and could get her into trouble".

The woman, who works in the NHS, said: "She has refused to do so, telling me she can do as she pleases when she pleases. I feel these people, who primarily suffer from dementia, should be protected from such abusive comments. Name calling of this kind is unacceptable and extremely offensive.

"I think relatives should be aware of what she is posting about their family members. Elders with mental impairments are still people and therefore should be treated with dignity and respect."

Ms Cox, of Church Street, Bentley, Doncaster, blocked and deleted her as a Facebook 'friend' after she objected to her request, she added.

A spokeswoman for Bestquest, who own Chapel Garth, said: "Bestquest considers the welfare and safety of the service users in its care as paramount and the company always strives to maintain the highest standard of care.

"The company has policies in place which expressly prohibit misconduct by its staff. This matter will be thoroughly investigated following which all appropriate disciplinary action will be taken."

Chapel Garth was previously rocked by controversy when former boss Stephen Corry was jailed for a year in 2005 for sexually harassing
female staff and mistreating a patient.