STOURPORT’S UKIP Worcestershire county councillor at the centre of a “racist” comments storm has confirmed he is standing down.

Eric Kitson’s resignation comes in the wake of anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic remarks and pictures posted to his facebook profile. He is currently making contact with the county council and completing the relevant paper work.

In a statement, Mr Kitson said: “It is with sadness I am announcing my resignation as a councillor.

“I am extremely sorry to have let down my friends, the people in the hard-working UKIP team that got me elected, the people of Stourport who gave me the honour of electing me and of course my family.

“Like many people who are not professional politicians, I used my facebook page as a general post board. That was foolish. I am not racist but I can understand why people could think so.”

Wyre Forest’s UKIP parliamentary spokesman Michael Wrench said Mr Kitson had “made the right decision” in resigning.

“For me he has taken the right step in stepping down,” said Mr Wrench. “He has apologised, he has been foolish and naive like so many other people who use facebook.

“It is a bit of a set back for us but obviously we hope people vote for us for our policies.

“We have now got to look forward. This has been dealt with and come the next election we have got to brush ourselves down and campaign for the right reasons which are our policies which people have voted for all over the UK.”

West Mercia Police are currently investigating Mr Kitson’s facebook comments.