MEP Paul Nuttall has been elected as UKIP's new leader in the contest to replace Nigel Farage.

The former deputy leader, who was the favourite to triumph, earned 62.6% of the 15,000 votes cast, easily beating ex-deputy chairman Suzanne Evans and former soldier John Rees-Evans.

Ms Evans secured 19.3% of the vote, while Mr Rees-Evans won 18.1%.

Speaking after his victory was announced, Mr Nuttall promised to unite the party and "hold the Government's feet to the fire" over Brexit.

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"The country needs a strong UKIP more now than ever before, for if UKIP ceases to be an electoral force, there will be no impetus on Theresa May and her Government to give us real Brexit and we will end up with some mealy-mouthed, backsliding version," he said.

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"This will be a betrayal of the British people and a united UKIP under my leadership will never, ever allow that to happen."

The contest was triggered when Diane James quit as leader last month - only 18 days after being elected to replace Mr Farage, who stepped down in the wake of the EU referendum.

The party will hope Mr Nuttall's election will draw a line under a turbulent few months.

Steven Woolfe, who was an early front runner, quit the race and later the party following a fracas with a fellow MEP.

Ms James also quit the party, leading Mr Farage to hit out at what he said was her "irrational selfishness".

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Mr Nuttall is the head of the UKIP delegation in the European Parliament and has been MEP for North West England since 2009.

The 39-year-old, who was born on Merseyside, is a former history lecturer and once played football for Tranmere Rovers as a youth.

He chose not to stand to succeed Mr Farage earlier this year, but Mr Nuttall was regarded as the candidate most likely to capitalise on high levels of support for Brexit in the North and take working-class voters away from Labour.

In his victory speech Mr Nuttall made clear his sights are set on traditional Labour heartlands.

He said the party was more interested in "dinner party" topics like climate change and fair trade than the interests of their working class voters, such as immigration and social mobility.

Thrilled and delighted by Ukip new leader Paul Nuttall - clear new strategic direction! pic.twitter.com/MUPayzApNY — Douglas Carswell MP (@DouglasCarswell) November 28, 2016

"I want to replace the Labour Party and make UKIP the voice of patriotic Britain," Mr Nuttall said.

"UKIP's future is bright but for it to be so, UKIP must unite. Today's result has ensured that it will."

The outgoing Mr Farage agreed the new leader should focus on winning votes from Labour.

"Old Labour voters have absolutely nowhere else to go other than to come to UKIP," he said.

Mr Farage promised not to be "a back seat driver" - but said he would be available to offer support if asked.

He also said he would serve out his term in the European Parliament, which ends in 2019.