Ukip has suspended a member from North Yorkshire who allegedly posted anti-Muslim jokes on Facebook.

Police are investigating whether pensioner Tony Nixon committed any offence on the social networking site.

It is understood Mr Nixon, from Guisborough had been canvassing for the party in Stokesley.

His Facebook account listed pages he “liked”, including numerous English Defence League sites and ones expressing strong anti-Muslim sentiments.

It was claimed it included images of US president Barack Obama and his wife mocked up to look like chimpanzees.

There were also racist jokes about destroying mosques, burning Muslims or knocking over a Pakistani with a bus.