Claims that Nigel Farage's latest date on a speaking tour of the United States flopped after just 21 people turned up despite tickets being free have been rubbished.

Pictures shared with KentOnline by the former Ukip leader's team show far greater numbers in the audience in Pittsburgh last night.

The attendance was clearly in the hundreds, with every seat in the room filled.

Prior to the event, the Westerham-based brexiteer had taken to Twitter to address people who had reserved places they did not intend to take up - a stunt similar to that which happened at some Donald Trump rallies.

He tweeted: "The Hoaxers who have booked fake tickets to my events in America have overplayed their hand.

"Thanks for the publicity, free speech will win."

After the Pittsburgh event, an inaccurate account of what had happened was widely shared on Twitter saying a spokesman for the company that booked Mr Farage for the speaking tour of the US said they had "miscalculated his popularity" after only 21 people turned up despite tickets being free.

However, a spokesman for Mr Farage stressed this was not the case and pointed out the pictures proved the attendance ran into three figures.

Earlier in his tour, the former Brexit Party leader was amazed to meet two people who shared his surname when he just happened to be in Kent County, where he addressed a crowd of 700.

He tweeted: "What are the chances!"

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