The Leave.EU Twitter account has responded to Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential election with a series of controversial tweets.

As projections suggested the centrist had comfortably defeated far-right Marine Le Pen, the campaign group, backed by Ukip funder Arron Banks and former leader Nigel Farage, tweeted: “RIP France."

It later posted a picture of a Second World War-era front page reading “France Surrenders” along with a caption reading: “The French rolled over in 1940. This time they’ve saved Germany the fuel and bullets.”

French crowd goes wild as Macron is announced election winner

The post was a reference to Mr Macron’s pro-European Union policies and vow to work closely alongside Germany and other EU member states in the interests of European co-operation and integration.

Other social media users responded angrily to the messages.

“The Germans aren’t the fascists now. You are,” wrote one.

“The party you are supporting was founded by the remnants of the regime that collaborated with the German occupation,” said another.

Later in the evening, a third tweet was posted on the Leave.EU page saying: “Macron walks out in Paris to EU anthem. Says it all – more integration, more devastation.”

The account had earlier posted a video of Mr Farage describing Ms Le Pen as “the real deal”.

Speaking to ITV’s Peston on Sunday, the former Ukip leader said: “She’s a proper, genuine Eurosceptic and under her the French National Front is not about race but it is about sovereignty.

“Do I think Marine Le Pen herself is an extremist? No I don’t, I absolutely don’t … Not only would she be better for France than Macron, but better for Brexit Britain.

“I do believe Marine Le Pen will become the French president. However, I suspect it’s more likely that will happen in 2022 than today.”

Mr Macron comfortably defeat Ms Le Pen with anoit 65 per cent of votes compared to the Front National leader’s 35 per cent, after 45 million out of 47 million ballots were counted.

French Presidential Election Show all 20 1 /20 French Presidential Election French Presidential Election Voters line up to cast their ballots REUTERS French Presidential Election French expats queue along the street outside the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle to cast their vote in a polling station inside the school, in the first round of the 2017 French presidential election, in London, Britain April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor - RTS13JM5 REUTERS French Presidential Election People line up to vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Emmanuel Foudrot - RTS13HSP REUTERS French Presidential Election Police patrol polling stations in France REUTERS French Presidential Election Francois Fillon (L), member of the Republicans political party and 2017 French presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, casts his vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Christophe Archambault/Pool - RTS13IH0 REUTERS French Presidential Election Benoit Hamon (C), French Socialist party 2017 presidential candidate, is surrounded by photographers as he leaves a polling station after voting in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Trappes, near Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler - RTS13I0Y REUTERS French Presidential Election French President Francois Hollande collects voting slips before casting his ballot in the first round of the 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Tulle, France, on April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Georges Gobet/Pool - RTS13ITO REUTERS French Presidential Election A policeman walks by election posters near a polling station during the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann - RTS13I3A REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron casts his ballot REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, waves hand during in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier - RTS13ICH SAA/ French Presidential Election Jean-Luc Melenchon, candidate of the French far-left Parti de Gauche and candidate for the French 2017 presidential election, leaves a polling booth in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe - RTS13IKB REUTERS French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen casts her ballot Marine Le Pen (L), French National Front (FN) political party leader and candidate for French 2017 presidential election, casts her ballot in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, April 23, 2017. At R, Mayor of Henin-Beaumont Steeve Briois. REUTERS/Charles Platiau - RTS13IEI REUTERS French Presidential Election Early ballots are read as results continue to come in Reuters French Presidential Election Macron supporters react as results come in early in the evening AP French Presidential Election Supporters of Front National leader Marine Le Pen cheer as early results come in Reuters French Presidential Election Alamy Live News. J21KYW Paris, France. 23rd April 2017. Marcon supporters wave French and EU flags after the announcement that he is the leader in the exit polls after the polling stations have been closed. Supporters of Emmanuel Macron, the Presidential candidate from the social liberal political party En Marche! celebrate the exit polls, that see him in first place, ahead of Marine Le Pen from the Front National in the first round of the French Presidential election. Credit: Michael Debets/Alamy Live News This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check. Alamy French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen takes to the stage to address her supporters as fans cheer Reuters French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron greets supporters on Sunday night AP French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux celebrate the incoming results EPA

Leave.EU, which was funded by Mr Banks and included a number of senior Ukip figures, was one of the two main pro-Brexit campaigns in the run-up to last year’s EU referendum.

Last month the Electoral Commission announced it was investigating alleged spending irregularities relating to the group.