Steven Woolfe, a leading member of the European Parliament from the UK Independence Party (UKIP), is recovering in hospital following an "altercation" during a party room meeting.

Key points: Steven Woolfe collapses, loses consciousness outside EU legislature chamber

Steven Woolfe collapses, loses consciousness outside EU legislature chamber He is being kept in hospital, awaiting secondary tests

He is being kept in hospital, awaiting secondary tests Mr Woolfe says he will put his name forward to be UKIP's new leader

Mr Woolfe collapsed and lost consciousness outside the European Union legislature chamber after leaving a voting session, a parliamentary official said.

Pictures showed him sprawled and unconscious, still clutching a briefcase on a walkway in the parliament building.

He was treated at the scene by the legislature's first responders and taken to a local hospital.

"I deeply regret that following an altercation that took place at a meeting of UKIP MEPs this morning that Steven Woolfe subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital," UKIP leader Nigel Farage said.

Later, Mr Woolfe released a statement saying he was OK.

"The CT scan has shown that there is no blood clot in the brain," he said in a statement.

"At the moment I am feeling brighter, happier, and smiling as ever.

"As a precaution, I am being kept in overnight awaiting secondary tests to make sure everything in fine.

"I am sitting up and said to be looking well. The only consequence at the moment is a bit of numbness on the left-hand side of my face."

Steven Woolfe has said he would be putting his name forward to be the party's new leader. ( Reuters: Andrew Yates )

A UKIP spokesman said Mr Woolfe, who was marking his 49th birthday, had passed out and had two "epileptic-like fits" but tests had shown no bleeding on the brain.

The incident came just a day after Mr Woolfe said he would be putting his name forward to be the party's new leader even though he admitted he had considered joining Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservatives.

"In the last few weeks I have thought long and hard about my political future and how I can best help build the Brexit Britain we voted for in June — a meritocratic, independent and prosperous country that stands up for the millions of people who have been ignored for too long," he said.

Mr Farage resumed his overall leadership of the party in the EU legislature on Wednesday after elected successor Diane Jane stood down.

Her departure came after less than three weeks in the job amid factional struggles following the referendum which delivered UKIP's key goal of taking Britain out of the EU.

Reuters