A councillor has vehemently denied making racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic comments on social media, claiming the posts were placed on his account by somebody else.

Norfolk county councillor Jonathon Childs was responding to accusations made by the Hope Not Hate campaign group that he was behind 'a catalogue of offensive posts' on Facebook.

The group this weekend published on its website a series of offensive comments, which it claims were made between 2009 and 2011, before he became a councillor and which are now unavailable.

The EDP has seen the alleged posts but has decided not to republish them.

Mr Childs, an East Flegg representative for UKIP at County Hall since 2013, says he has been made a target in a deliberate bid to lose his party votes in next week's General Election.

Speaking from The Grange pub, in Ormesby St Margaret, which he manages, he said: 'I did not make these posts and I have been talking to my solicitor about this.

'These posts are apparently by me but other people could access my Facebook. People have access and also the ability to hack them.

'I have no problems with anyone. I don't judge anyone by creed, colour or race. I certainly have no problems with Muslims. A Muslim doctor actually saved my life twice.

'When I worked as a doorman in Yarmouth I had no problems and I have had no complaints running the Grange or my previous pub.

'I have appealed lots of times for racial harmony in the area. I work on the Strategic Equality Group (SEG) on the county council. Why would I do this if this was all true? Ask anyone who knows me, works in the pub or comes to the pub – there is no discrimination, they will all tell you so.'

The article by Hope Not Hate, which is known to have links to the Labour Party, also claims posts were made by the councillor in support of far-right group the English Defence League (EDL).

The website contains a photograph of the councillor alongside Ivan Humble, the former regional co-ordinator for the East Anglia branch of the EDL, at one of his charity nights.

Mr Childs said he was an old friend and that has nothing to do with any views Mr Humble may hold.

UKIP has previously said former EDL members or activists were forbidden from joining UKIP under the party's terms and conditions of membership.

Mr Childs, whose seat is not up for re-election next week, added: 'It is clearly politically motivated, just a week before the election.

'I'm wondering why these accusations weren't published before? Why else would they target me now?

'It's not my place to say who fabricated these posts, but they are definitely not mine. If they are real, why have they not been flagged up before?

'Why has no one complained to me or to Facebook to have them removed?'

Mr Childs described the support he had received following the article as 'unbelievable', adding: 'They know the real Jonathon Childs and that I would never offend anyone because of their race, colour, creed or any other reason.'

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