Medway Ukip leader Roy Freshwater insists his party is not in disarray, despite the surprise resignation of leader Diane James and an alleged altercation between two Ukip MEPs.

Party leadership contender Steven Woolfe was hospitalised today after allegedly being punched in the face during a meeting of Ukip MEPs in Strasbourg, but Mr Freshwater said it was wrong to speculate over the incident and that the party remained in good shape.

"They've said there was an altercation, but we don't know what happened," said Mr Freshwater. "Ukip's had a chequered past, but unfortunately these things happen to all parties.

And he added: "What is an altercation? I've had lots of altercations in my life and I expect you have too."

The Medway leader was due to meet with colleagues tomorrow (Friday) following the resignation of Ms James, and said the list of candidates in the forthcoming leadership contest presented a "difficult choice," adding: "I look at the list of candidates and I'm not sure."

As for the candidates in the forthcoming Medway by-elections, he wasn't even sure what their names were. The Medway leader had to look up the surnames of Mark Mencattelli - who is standing for Ukip in Rainham - and Karl Weller, who's standing in Strood South, but said he was confident they would have a good chance if they took the campaign to the streets as the party had in the referendum.

Elsewhere in Medway the party was seen to have a strong base after clinching four council seats in last year's election - but has since lost Cllr Mark Joy, who became independent, and Cllr Catriona Brown-Reckless who stood down and moved to Wales with her family.

But Mr Freshwater believes the party has not been left redundant following the referendum vote, and remained "really positive" about Ukip's role in ensuring Brexit was delivered.

"I think we've got some points to make," he said. "People still see no investment in hard working people in Medway. I don't think there's enough investment in housing . We've got 350,000 people coming into the country every year and there's no housing.

"I'm very positive about what we can give to residents and what we can give to the country.

"We've still got to make sure the promises of the referendum are taken forward.

"Perhaps our job will be done then but let's wait until that happens."