Internet jokers claimed a North West MEP starred as walking teddy bear Bungle in 70s kids’ TV show Rainbow.

Paul Nuttall, deputy leader of UKIP, found his Wikipedia page edited by pranksters to say: “Nuttall was the original Bungle in children’s television show Rainbow.”

The North West MEP said: “I think this is probably the funniest thing I’ve ever read about myself on the internet. I’m all for it.”

But the politician poured cold water over the rumours, saying: “Considering I wasn’t even born when Rainbow started, it makes it very difficult indeed for this to be true.

“But I do find it really funny that people are making things like this up.”

(Image: Sean Hansford)

Mr Nuttall was born in 1976 – four years after Rainbow first hit the airwaves.

The pranksters’ identities and motives are not known.

Lovable brown bear Bungle was actually played by actors John Leeson, Stanley Bates, Malcolm Lord and Paul Cullinan.

More than 1,000 episodes of Rainbow were made between 1972 and 1992. The show was dubbed Britain’s answer to hit US series Sesame Street.

Rainbow’s other characters included Zippy and George.

Before going into politics, Mr Nuttall taught history at Hugh Baird College and Liverpool Hope University.