A VISIT by UKIP leader Gerard Batten has been cancelled today.

The anti-immigration party leader and its two MEP candidates for the south west were expected in the town centre this morning.

However the leadership cancelled the trip over the weekend, saying that the UKIP battle bus wasn't ready and train services were unreliable due to the bank holiday.

It added that there are currently no further plans to visit before the European elections later this month.

UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin, known by his online moniker Sargon of Akkad, caused waves of controversy after a visit in town last month, including repeated videos and messages on social media joking he "wouldn't even rape" Labour MP Jess Phillips.

A counter-demo by protesters has been planned to meet the bus on Fleming Way at 11am today.