The Archbishop of Canterbury has locked horns with Nigel Farage after he accused him of "legitimising racism".

The Most Reverend Justin Welby said he "utterly condemned" the Ukip leader's description of the issue of sexual assaults by migrants as the "nuclear bomb" of the EU referendum.

This followed an interview with the politician in the Sunday Telegraph, in which he said the possibility of attacks by migrants in the UK would depend on whether the UK "voted for Brexit or not".

This was after Mr Farage was asked if there was an increased risk to women in the UK by migrants if Britain held onto its European membership.

He was given the alleged sexual assaults of hundreds of women at Cologne's central station last New Year's Eve by men identified as being of North African and Arab origin as an example of the so-called "risk".

"What that is, is accentuating fear for political gain and that is absolutely inexcusable" - Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop told MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee that Farage's comments were an "inexcusable pandering to peoples worries and prejudices.

He continued: "That's giving legitimisation to racism.

"Fear is a pastoral issue, you deal with it by recognising it, by standing alongside and providing answers to it."

The Ukip leader responded by claiming the Archbishop had not actually read what was said in the interview, but was instead reacting to headlines. He said Remain campaigners were "coming after him".

He said: "Nothing I have said is racist.

"I have said nothing worse than many other politicians and commentators.

"I said there is a cultural question. Nothing more."

The Archbishop insisted he is not supporting either side in the campaign leading up to the referendum on June 23.

He balanced the two arguments by claiming: "We can take more people in, but we have to think very hard about it."

He also said he does not believe Britain is full but accepted immigration as a "burden on communities".