STOURBRIDGE UKIP politician James Carver has welcomed police moves to investigate claims he was racially abused on Twitter because of his Romany gypsy background.

West Midlands MEP James Carver, who is taking on Tory MP Margot James in the General Election in a bid to win the Stourbridge seat, said he had been called a "pikey" and that he’d found the remark "as offensive as racist expletives that are used against other minorities".

West Mercia Police confirmed it was looking into allegations by Mr Carver that he had received racial abuse on social media after the MEP visited Worcester Police Station to make a complaint about the online comments.

Mr Carver said: "I would like to thank West Mercia Police for their prompt and professional response to deeply offensive comments which were made directly to me last week on my Twitter page.

"I will not tolerate such comments, least of all from so-called internet trolls, and am reassured by the professionalism of West Mercia Police, who are investigating this matter fully with a view to bringing the alleged perpetrator to justice.

"As well as questioning my parentage, the word 'pikey', which is deeply offensive to members of Roma, gypsy and traveller communities, was used against me.

"The public must comprehend the everyday use of this word only serves to further stigmatise these forgotten communities. It is as offensive as racist expletives that are used against other minorities."

A West Mercia Police spokeswoman confirmed the force had received the complaint and said: "We are currently looking into it."