A Home Office worker snared by paedophile hunters allegedly trying to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex has been sacked.

Gary Hodgkiss, 48, who was an IT consultant for the Border Force, was filmed by vigilantes as he arrived to meet a young girl in Manchester last night.

The 6ft 7in consultant, from Northampton, was said by the vigilantes to have travelled 150 miles from government offices in London and alleged he was unaware that the person he had been grooming online was an adult.

But the government today announced that his employment had been terminated.

A spokesman said: 'The Home Office expects the highest standards of personal integrity from external contractors.

'We are in the process of terminating this individual's contract with immediate effect. It would be inappropriate to comment further on an ongoing police investigation.'

Gary Hodgkiss, 48, pictured, is a Home Office official who works as an IT consultant for Border Force who was confronted by paedophile hunters after allegedly trying to meet a 12-year-old

Married Hodgkiss was confronted by vigilantes as he got out of his car (left) in Manchester last night. Police officers were later filmed arresting the consultant and putting him in a van (right)

Hodgkiss was filmed by the gang pulling up in a sports car at an undisclosed location in Manchester.

Members of the paedophile hunter group Dark Light then surrounded his vehicle and spoke to him on camera.

Hodgkiss, pictured, is a director of GRC Services, a government contractor

The confrontation was streamed on Facebook Live attracting 42,000 viewers in 30 minutes.

The 16-minute clip ends with Hodgkiss being arrested and taken away by police in a marked van.

In the video, one of the vigilantes said: 'You work for the Home Office. You have f***** your life. You have instructed what you believe to be a 12-year-old girl to masturbate.'

As he was told this, Mr Hodgkiss took off his glasses and put his head in his hands.

Later in the video a paedophile hunter said, 'I've seen the messages you sent while on the way up here about getting a hotel room and spending a night in a hotel room with her.'

The paedophile hunters claimed to have evidence that Mr Hodgkiss was grooming three decoys online posing as underage children.

The confrontation with Mr Hodgkiss was livestreamed and ached by more than 40,000 people.

Hodgkiss was filmed removing his glasses and putting his head into his hands as he was confronted by the group. The footage was streamed on Facebook Live attracting 42,000 views

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: 'Shortly before 9:15pm on Wednesday 20 June 2018 police were called to Wood Street in Middleton.

'Officers attended and a 48-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grooming. He remains in custody for questioning.'

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 quoting reference number 2258 of 20/06/18 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.