One of Cumbria's Euro-MPs has announced he is to stand as leader of crisis-hit Ukip.

Throwing his hat in the ring, Paul Nuttall, Ukip North West MEP, said the party faced an "existential crisis" and could disappear unless it unified.

He told the BBC's Sunday Politics: "I've made the decision that I'll put my name forward to be the next leader of Ukip.

"I have huge support out there across the country, not only among people at the top of the party in Westminster and with the MPs, but also among the grassroots.

"And I want to stand on the platform of being the unity candidate - Ukip needs to come together. I'm not going to be on here and gild the lily, Ukip at the moment is looking over the edge of a political cliff, it'll either step off or it will step back.

"And I want I be the candidate that will tell us to come back."

He said Ukip is facing an "existential crisis" and said he can be the "go-to man" to bring the party together.

"I want to ensure that Ukip is on the pitch to kick the ball into the open net that we have in British politics", he said.

He said the party needs to move on from its internal squabbling and unify behind the new leader.

Ukip has been plunged into turmoil since Diane James quit as leader after just 18 days in the job.

Steven Woolfe, another North West MEP, who was the frontrunner to replace her, also left the party in the wake of an altercation with another party member after which he ended up in hospital.