Doug Jones, the man who made his name prosecuting two former Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church, has won a stunning victory in the senate race in Alabama - the first Democrat to win such a seat in the state for 25 years.

In doing so, the 63-year prosecutor, who just weeks ago was trailing Republican Roy Moore by double digits in the polls, also delivered a humiliating blow to Donald Trump, who had mocked Mr Jones and endorsed his opponent. It also reduces the Republican majority in the Senate to 51-49, complicating Mr trump's efforts to push his legislative agenda.

Mr Jones’s fortunes increased sharply after Mr Moore’s campaign was rocked by allegations that he sexually assaulted and abused young girls and women when he was was aged in 30s and working as a local prosecutor.

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Mr Moore denied the allegations and dismissed them as an attempt to undermine his campaign, but they appeared sufficient to either lead some Republicans to vote for Mr Jones or else to enable the Democrat to persuade a sufficient number of his potential supporters to actually go out and cast their ballots for him.

On Tuesday night, as news of Mr Jones stunning upset sank in, not just among the political class but across the country. Mr Trump offered measured congratulations.

"Congratulations to Doug Jones on a hard fought victory. The write-in votes played a very big factor, but a win is a win. The people of Alabama are great, and the Republicans will have another shot at this seat in a very short period of time. It never ends," he said.

However Mr Moore and his campaign told supporters that the race is "not over" as the Republican refused to concede defeat, holding out hope of a recount in a tight race. However, that appeared unlikely, with results putting Mr Jones ahead by 1.5 per cent.