NO further action will be taken against an election candidate arrested in Winchester on suspicion of racial or religious harassment.

Paul Weston, leader of eurosceptic party Liberty GB, was arrested on the steps of the Guildhall on April 26, when reading a Winston Churchill quote on Islam.

The European Parliament candidate was reading sections of the former Prime Minister's book, The River War, through a megaphone that included the opinion that the religion is “retrograde” and “militant”.

Police officers were called to the scene after a member of the public complained, and Mr Weston was then arrested.

The incident sparked a major debate on free speech across the country, with fellow South East candidate Daniel Hannan - who was subsequently re-elected as a Conservative MEP - criticising Hampshire police for their “disproportionate” actions.

But now police have informed Mr Weston, whose party came fourteenth out of 15 parties at the elections, that he will not face any further action.