Former East of England MEP Jeffrey Titford, who went on to lead the UK Independence Party and was dubbed 'the father of Brexit', has died.

His family announced on Tuesday (September 10) that Mr Titford, who had cancer, had died at the age of 90.

For two terms, Mr Titford represented the East of England constituency, made up of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, in the European Parliament.

The former Clacton undertaker, began his political career as a Conservative councillor in the Essex town. He became one of three UKIP candidates elected as MEPs in 1999, along with Nigel Farage.

Eurosceptic Mr Titford was re-elected in 2004, having served as UKIP leader between 2000 and 2002.

He had a spell as interim leader in 2010, when he was succeeded by Mr Farage.

Ex-UKIP aide Stuart Gulleford said: "Jeffrey was one of the fathers of Brexit, coming to the fore in national and international politics at a time when leaving the EU was considered unthinkable and long before it became official Conservative Party policy."

He is survived by his wife Margaret, one son, three daughters, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.