Nigel Farage: post-Brexit abuse rise 'has affected both sides'

Nigel Farage has condemned an apparent rise in abuse following the Brexit vote but insisted it had been aimed at Leave supporters as well.

Mr Farage claimed said there had been incidents of "appalling behaviour" from both sides and the country was in a state of "heightened tension".

He told Channel 4 news: "The abuse since that Brexit result is going both ways because there are people who voted Leave who have been called horrible things.

"We are in a country of heightened tension."

There has been a reported increase in incident of racist abuse in recent days, with a number of Londoners affected.

But, asked about the increase, Mr Farage responded: "Perhaps they have, perhaps they haven't. I don't know."

Urging people to "behave youselves", he went on: "We will go on being a country that is open and welcoming, the difference is having voted for Brexit, we can now control the numbers."

The Ukip leader was speaking after goading fellow MEPs at the European Parliament today, telling them: "You're not laughing now."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.