AN anti-European political group which campaigns to get Britain out of the European Union has been described as 'scum' by a local MEP.

North West Liberal Democrat Chris Davies hit out at the UK Independence Party after one of its leading spokesmen appeared to justify recent bomb attacks on EU officials.

Those attacks included one on the office of North West MEP Gary Titley. UKIP member and South East Euro-MP Nigel Farage said Europe should heed a warning put out by his party that opposition to Europe would lead to civil unrest and violence.

He said: "We can only hope that the EU comes to its senses and listens to the people. If it fails to do so, there is clearly a very real danger of an accelerating wave of attacks as more and more extremist groups resort to violence as they are denied democracy."

Mr Farage said his party "deplored" the bombs but could understand the reasons for them.

Today, his statement was fiercely criticised by Chris Davies, who said it would bring comfort to terrorists. He said: "It's not MEPs who are most threatened by letter bombs but our assistants, our secretaries, and even the sixth-formers doing work experience in our offices and opening the mail.

"These are the innocents who are the real targets of the lunatics.

"The UKIP has lied and twisted the truth about Europe for years, but their statement today shows them to be no better than political scum.

"It is despicable that a party that claims to speak for British values should now position itself side by side with violent anarchists who have given no clear justification for their actions."