THE Stourport UK Independence Party councillor at the centre of a storm over controversial "racist" facebook posts says he does "not see how he can carry on" in his role.

Worcestershire county councillor Eric Kitson, 59, told The Shuttle he uploaded pictures and comments, which have been described as anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic, to "show people how bad this is".

Asked whether he would carry on as a councillor he said "No, I don't think I can". He was elected just 12 days ago - receiving the highest number of votes of anyone in Wyre Forest with 1,385.

"I do not think it is fair of me plus it is not fair on the people of Stourport," he added. "I am fairly sure I will stand down - I just want to be in a more stable condition first."

He said: "I wanted to show people this is bad, this is wrong. What I should have done is write something on them about how bad it is but I didn't. To say I have been stupid is mild.

"I do not agree with the comments and I have not got a racist bone in my body. I went to school...with a lot of young Pakistanis and Indians and I have had wonderful Muslim friends over the years."

Mr Kitson, who has been a member of UKIP for a year, said he "could not be more sorry" to other members of the Wyre Forest party.

"What can I say to them?" he said. "The hardest thing to do is say sorry. I cannot blame anybody but myself. It is the worst thing that has ever happened to me before and it is my fault.

"The people who know me - my family, friends, people I work with - have all supported me. It has made me ill - I cannot eat and I cannot sleep."

Mr Kitson said he joined UKIP because of the party's policy on withdrawing from the European Union but ran as a councillor because he believed Stourport could be "better represented".

"I felt passionately about that", he added.

The incident is currently under investigation by UKIP in London and West Mercia Police have confirmed they had asked for more information after receiving a complaint about the posts.