Labour MP Austin Mitchell has dismissed a story in which he is quoted as saying Labour would hold his Great Grimsby seat at the election even if its candidate was a "raving alcoholic sex paedophile".

"If that was said, it was as a joke and I'm not sure I would have phrased it like that," Mr Mitchell told the BBC.

Austin Mitchell, who is to retire as Great Grimsby's MP in May, was quoted as making the comment in the Independent on Sunday.