Labour has sacked one of its election candidates over a series of tweets reportedly posted by the prospective MP online.

Trevor Merralls, who leads a black cab campaign group, said his sacking was the result of a "vicious smear campaign".

Earlier the party said it was "urgently investigating" claims that the candidate in Old Bexley and Sidcup posted tweets calling for the eradication of Islam.

He was linked to a controversial Twitter account which has since been deleted, which posted derogatory comments about Muslims and a "reckoning" for Islam.