UKIP leader Nigel Farage has denied accusations he used taxpayers' money to pay for bodyguards.

Mr Farage has spoken out after reports Ukip used EU money to fund £58,000 worth of security at five events last autumn.

The events including an appearance at the Circus Tavern, in Purfleet, in September, which formed part of his Say No To The EU national tour.

The Ukip leader insisted the money was not for his personal protection, but to pay for security at party meetings.

Asked if it was a good use of public funds, Mr Farage said: "It's not public money, I get zero public money from this country. The fact that the Germans help subsidise our public meetings in this country through their EU contributions - justified entirely."

Mr Farage, who complains that British taxpayers send £350 million to Brussels each week, said he gets no help from the UK Government for his protection.

He said: "I am the only party leader, or senior political figure, who gets no help, zero help, from the British Government, even after my family was attacked last year, I get no help at all.

"So, we have to fund the whole thing privately, which for a party the size of ours is very difficult indeed,"

There were no protesters at the Purfleet event in September and security personnel's duties included "ensuring refreshments have been arranged", according to national newspaper reports.

Mr Farage's visit in September is one of three appearances he has made at the Circus Tavern in the past year.

He spoke at the venue, most famous as the former home of the World Darts Championship, last April, prior to the General Election, and also spoke at a pro-Brexit rally in Purfleet this March.

The security funding came from the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament, of which Ukip is a member.

A group spokesman said: "All spending on the speaking tour in late 2015 came out of the delegation budget in conformity to the rules."