A Reform UK activist who had been campaigning ahead of Thursday's Gorton and Denton by-election has been suspended over racist and antisemitic comments he made on social media.

For several days Reform UK refused to say whether Adam Mitula, an interim campaign manager in the Tameside area, had been suspended from the party but Mitula confirmed it on Monday.

It comes after evidence was published appearing to show he posted a highly offensive racial slur aimed at black people, and also made what appeared to be a derogatory remark about Jewish women.

He also appears to have agreed with a Holocaust denier that the number of Jewish people murdered by the Nazis had been exaggerated. Mitula said his comments have been taken out of context.

He claimed he was defending the Jewish community.

The allegations against Mitula were based on information gathered by the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate, apparently from his X account, which he has now deleted.

Mitula said: "I'm confirming my suspension as a Reform member pending investigation.

"The comments in question were taken out of context, and actually defended the Jewish community."

He added later he had "no comment" to make on the racial slur he used in relation to black people.

Reform UK said: "With regard to Adam Mitula, our disciplinary process is confidential and we do not provide a running commentary on any potential cases that are being considered."

There are more than 76,000 potential voters in the Gorton and Denton by-election spread across Denton in Tameside, and Gorton, Levenshulme and Burnage in Manchester.