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A Ukip parliamentary candidate claimed a gay donkey tried to rape his horse in a bizarre anecdote he told after being asked about another party member's homophobic comments.

John Rees-Evans, candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth in next year's election, told the tale on Saturday as he was quizzed by opponents outside a party campaign office in Merthyr Tydfil.

In response to a question about controversial claims made by a fellow party member that "some homosexuals prefer sex with animals", Mr Rees-Evans said: "Actually I've witnessed that. I was personally quite amazed. I've got a horse and it was in the fields.

"And a donkey came up, my horse is a stallion, and the donkey came up (which is male), and I'm afraid tried to rape my horse."

Commenting on homophobic remarks made by ex-Ukip official Dr Julia Gasper, he said: "In this case she's obviously correct...the homosexual donkey bit that animal. But I don't think that's what she meant, it's just a bizarre coincidence."

Footage of the odd exchange was uploaded to YouTube yesterday.

Mr Rees-Evans later told The Independent he was in “no position to declare that one particular form of sexual appetite is any more legitimate than any other”.

He added: “My own background is quite traditional. For me, any kind of non-conventional relationship that people have, I would say I don’t really understand the attraction, but we are a libertarian party.

“People can do pretty much anything they like in the privacy of their own homes as long as it doesn’t affect other people.”

It comes just a days after Ukip members were told to avoid using social media following a series of gaffs and sandals over inappropriate comments.