A police commissioner candidate has been slated for "fear-mongering" for incorrectly suggesting 11 young men arrested over an alleged gang rape at Bluewater were Muslims.

The post on English Democrat hopeful Steve Uncles' website prompted Kent Police to issue a statement to say it was not true.

Mr Uncles wrote: "A young woman was reportedly gang raped in a Bluewater car park by seven Muslim men".

Underneath it, he pasted the original KentOnline article - which had no mention of the nationalities or religious beliefs of those arrested after the alleged attack at Bluewater.

The wannabe police boss said on his website post: "It’s time to vote for a Police Commissioner who actually wants to protect the people of Kent, and pay no attention to the political correctness, that allows these incidents to happen."

After a furore on social media, Kent Police released a statement this afternoon, along with more information on the alleged attack, saying: "Due to the widespread attention this incident has received, investigating officers can confirm that all the 11 men who were arrested are from Kent and not Muslim, as has been suggested."

When asked by KentOnline if he would now be taking back or removing his online post, Mr Uncles said he would not, claiming: "My source on this was a police officer.

"I have asked Kent Police if they are using Home Office/Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines in this case, which tells police they must handle Muslims in a different way to all others in England, for political correctness reasons and they refused to respond."

Gurvinder Singh Sandher, the Independent police commissioner candidate, from Gravesend, said: "We need to remember that there is a victim in this, and somebody else's tragedy should never be used as a way to stir up hatred in the community. It's really disappointing to see this, it's not on."

Mr Uncles has also taken to Twitter to vindicate his views, and insinuated Kent Police are not being entirely truthful about the nature of their arrests.

Matthew Scott, the candidate for the Conservatives, from Swanley said: "If Steven has any evidence that can help the police with their inquiry I hope he has reported it and is cooperating with them, but speculation without any factual basis is completely unhelpful.

"The main concern at the moment is the alleged victim, her welfare, making sure she gets all the support she needs, and ensuring police catch the perpetrators, so they can be brought to justice."

Labour candidate Tris Osborne, from Medway, added: "Extremism in politics is a very dangerous thing.

"The police commissioner is meant to be a symbol of law and order. These comments are outrageous, and fear-mongering.

"Mr Uncles has shown he has little respect for diversity or equality and is making statements which are not factual. He should take back them and remove his comments.

"There are 1,000 cases of rape reported to Kent Police every year, but only around 5% of them are taken up and charges made.

"We're lower than the national average and that's not acceptable. We need to be working to encourage victims to come forward, and doing everything we can to help police and the CPS secure a prosecution where they should be."