Hillary Clinton refused to fire a senior campaign adviser who was accused of sexually harassing a junior colleague, it has been claimed.

Burns Strider was reportedly accused of sexually harassing a 30-year-old female colleague while they were working on Mrs Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

According to former staff, the woman told a campaign official that Mr Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent her a string of suggestive emails.

But Mr Strider, who was married at the time, was said to have been kept on the campaign at Mrs Clinton's request, the New York Times reported.

He was docked several weeks' pay and ordered to receive counselling, while the woman who made the allegation was reassigned to a new job.

Former campaign officials told the newspaper they were "troubled" by the fact that Mr Strider was allowed to retain his position.