Footage of an Alabama bar erupting into celebration at the news Republican candidate Roy Moore had lost the state’s Senate race has gone viral.

Video shared posted via Twitter on Wednesday shows dozens of people cheering as they hear news Mr Moore’s Democratic Party rival Doug Jones is projected to win the special election.

Voters are seen embracing each other and throwing their hands in the air upon hearing the predicted result.

Mr Moore, 70, has refused to accept defeat despite his opponent’s 1.5 per cent margin of victory – triple the 0.5 per cent lead required in Alabama to avoid a recount.

The former judge’s campaign was also dogged by controversy, including allegations he abused an assaulted women and girls some 40 years ago while serving as a local prosecutor.

Mr Moore has denied the accusations, dismissing them as an attempt by critics to undermine him.

The Alabama Republican Party has urged its supporters to accept the result.

In a statement, local party chairman Terry Lathan, said: “While we are deeply disappointed in the extremely close U.S. Senate election results, with our candidate Judge Roy Moore, we respect the voting process given to us by our Founding Fathers.”

Mr Moore's defeat to Mr Jones, who while working as an attorney famously prosecuted two former Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church and killed four young girls, has also a blow to President Donald Trump.

Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Show all 12 1 /12 Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Democratic senatorial candidate Doug Jones speaks to reporters after voting Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore (L) and his wife Kayla ride their horses to the polling station to vote AFP/Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones David Watson waves in a Santa suit as he holds a Doug Jones sign AP Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore speaks to the media as his wife Kayla (R) looks on AFP/Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Democratic Alabama Senate candidate Doug Jones casts his vote at Brookwood Baptist Church REUTERS Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Roy Moore speaks to the media after he rode in on a horse to vote AP Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Democratic candidate Doug Jones greets supporters after casting his ballot AP Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore departs on horseback after he cast his ballot in Gallant REUTERS Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Voters wait in line to cast their ballot at a polling station setup in the St Thomas Episcopal Church Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Democratic Senatorial candidate Doug Jones (L) greets voters outside of a polling station at the Bessemer Civic Center Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Voters exit after casting their ballots at a polling station setup in the Fire Department Getty Images Alabama Senate race: Roy Moore vs Doug Jones Democratic Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones speaks with the media after casting his vote at Brookwood Baptist Church Reuters

Mr Trump had thrown his weight behind the Republican’s campaign, urging people on Tuesday to back his chosen candidate.