Facebook has been accused of "pumping out fake news" after running political adverts claiming endangered animals were being threatened - by Brexit.

The social media giant has been paid hundreds of thousands of pounds by Britain’s two most prominent Remain campaign groups to stir up support for a second referendum.

Latest figures released by the Facebook show the two organisations - People’s Vote UK and Best for Britain - spent £373,587 on Facebook ads in the run up to the parliamentary vote on Theresa May’s defeated Brexit deal.

By contrast, Leave-supporting groups spent a little over £93,000, according to an analysis by the Telegraph of political income disclosed by Facebook.

Although Facebook reveals the names of the groups buying political ads, the organisations themselves are under no obligation to reveal the sources of their funding.

Facebook is under investigation across the world over claims the social media website has been used to sway the results of election campaigns as well as the outcome of the EU referendum.