A Ukip councillor is walking out of the party following a vote to remove its leader.

Ben Glayzer, of Dover District Council, announced his leaving tonight just a few hours after the party's beleaguered leader Henry Bolton lost a vote of no confidence.

In both a Facebook posting and tweet Cllr Glayzer said: "With much sadness I announce my membership resignation from Ukip.

"I shall continue to represent the Tower Hamlets ward as an independent councillor."

He said he could "no longer represent the party" after the leader's removal.

Cllr Glayzer afterwards told Kent Online: "I believe that Mr Bolton had the ability to lead the party. He could take us forward and now we have gone down the slippery slope.

I don't condone Jo Marney's messages, they were dreadful, and neither did he. It did cause upset in the party but he has been doing his job.

"Mr Bolton has integrity and I don't think the vote was fair.

"I feel the management of the party orchestrated a removal process."

Cllr Glayzer's resignation means only one out of Dover district's 45 councillors is a Ukip member - Georgette Rapley of the Town and Pier ward.

A total 837 against 500 Ukip members voted to sack Mr Bolton today following the storm surrounding his relationship with 25-year-old Jo Marney.

Ms Marney, 29 years younger than Mr Bolton, landed in deep controversy after she posted attacks on Prince Harry's fiancee Meghan Markle.

Mr Bolton, of Folkestone, was voted against at the party's extraordinary general meeting in Birmingham today.

It followed a vote of no confidence in him by Ukip's National Executive Committee.