A second man has been arrested for allegedly sending threats to the woman behind the Brexit legal challenge.

The Metropolitan Police says a 50-year-old in Knightsbridge was placed in custody in central London on Wednesday on suspicion of racially-aggravated malicious communications.

It is believed to relate to online threats made to Gina Miller in August and November.

Gina Miller statement following the Supreme Court Brexit ruling

A 55-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of the same crime, targeting Gina Miller, in early December.

The 51-year-old fund manager, who is the lead claimant in a case which the government yesterday lost in the Supreme Court, says she can no longer travel on public transport because of abuse.

The mother-of-three told LBC radio station she had been "told that as a coloured woman, I'm not even human. I'm a primate, so I should be hunted and have my head mounted."

She said yesterday outside court: “I have therefore been shocked by the levels of personal abuse that I have received from many quarters over the last seven months for simply bringing and asking a legitimate question.

“I sincerely hope that going forward that people who stand in positions of power and profile are much quicker in condemning those who cross the lines of common decency and mutual respect.”

A Met Police statement, as part of Operation Falcon, said: "As part of the same investigation, officers have issued eight cease and desist notices to individuals in various parts of the UK.