A Liberal Democrat candidate has suggested that drinking water with plastic residue in it can turn people gay.

Susan King, who is standing in the west Midlands seat of Telford, said that "feminising hormones" are in the water supply, and can change sexuality.

She was asked about Tim Farron's prolonged inability to answer whether having gay sex was a sin in a live webchat with the Shropshire Star.

The Liberal Democrat then espoused her views about polluted water and sexuality.

She said: "I do feel environmental influences are affecting reproduction. All the pollution is having an effect on our DNA and our population is changing and evolving."