Paul Nuttall : "I won't allow smear campaigns to break me"

Paul Nuttall's said sorry for the false Hillsborough claims on his website - but says he won't apologise for the "smear campaign" he believes has been waged against him.

The UKIP leader's come under pressure to resign after Radio City exclusively revealed two seperate entries about losing close friends in the disaster were false

Nuttall appeared to cry as he asked party members if they backed him - and was answered with a standing ovation.

Mr Nuttall has faced a fierce backlash and calls to resign as an MEP after the claims emerged - the embattled would-be MP, who is trying to unseat Labour in the Stoke Central by-election, struck a defiant tone and vowed to fight on.

However, mobbed by press reporters as he left the stage at Ukip's party conference in Bolton, he refused to answer questions about Hillsborough.

Mr Nuttall told the conference that he accepts the blame for the false claim, made on his website, that he lost close friends in the footballing tragedy.

But he hit out at the "smear campaign" against him after doubts were cast over whether he was actually at the 1989 crush, in which 96 people lost their lives.

He said: "Many people will notice that I've had a bit of a difficult week."

"This is two-fold, actually. Firstly, I take the blame for the fact that I failed to check what was up on my website in my name, that was my fault and I apologise."

"But I will not apologise for what is a coordinated, cruel and almost evil smear campaign that has been directed at me."

"It is based on lies from sources who have not been named. It has been a tough week for me but I will not allow them to break me and I will not allow them to break Ukip."

Looking up at the audience, he said: "I was also asked by two journalists yesterday if I still have the support of my party."

His words were met with a standing ovation and large cheers for the party faithful as one man in the crowd shouted "take that".

Taking his glasses off and wiping a tear from his eye, Mr Nuttall said: "Thank you, I'm a bit overwhelmed. Thank you."