POLICE have been called in to investigate an alleged assault of a UKIP parliamentary candidate after a hustings in Bradford Cathedral.

Owais Rajput, the party’s candidate for Bradford East, claimed he was pushed and verbally abused after the hustings involving the Bradford West candidates on Sunday evening.

He was at the event to support the party’s Bradford West candidate, Harry Boota. He said the incident happened at around 8.15pm and was reported to police shortly afterwards.

He claims a man verbally abused him before taking hold of him, turning him around and pushing him.

Mr Rajput said he was shocked and added: “I couldn’t sleep afterwards, I was very shaken. This just isn’t acceptable”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We are investigating a report of an assault which allegedly took place following an event at Bradford Cathedral on Sunday evening.”

Rumours on social media suggested the alleged assault involved a Respect supporter, which a party spokesman strongly denied.