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Paul Nuttall wept on stage as he begged his own members for support over false claims about Hillsborough .

The Bootle -born UKIP leader became visibly emotional at his party's spring conference in Bolton - where he managed to dodge reporters' questions and was bundled out a side door.

In his speech, written during a hustings he skipped on Thursday, Mr Nuttall apologised and said he “takes the blame” for his website twice claiming he lost close friends in the stadium disaster.

But he then launched into a defiant rant against the “lies” and “smear campaign” that suggested he wasn't at the 1989 tragedy, storming: “I will not allow them to break me.”

And the self-professed Liverpool fan ducked a barrage of questions including about millionaire donor Arron Banks , who on Tuesday claimed people are "milking" Hillsborough and “accidents happen”.

Mr Nuttall has failed to disown Mr Banks' comments or vow not to take his money – and rushed to a side exit in chaotic scenes after refusing to give interviews.

As he left surrounded by security guards he said: "I have said absolutely everything I've got to say on the subject. I was at Hillsborough. I've got witness statements."

His shameless predecessor Nigel Farage also refused to criticise Mr Banks' Hillsborough slurs, saying: “He's a good friend of mine and he says all sorts of things on Twitter.

"Arron Banks is a private citizen entitled to his own views."

During his own speech Mr Farage piled pressure on Mr Nuttall to win in Stoke Central, warning he'd had a “tough week”.

He added: “I don't think anybody for one moment can underplay just how important, just how fundamental that by-election is for the futures of both the Labour party and indeed of UKIP.”

The former leader also launched a bid to steer his party's future away from the “mainstream”, warning: "UKIP is a radical party or it is nothing."

Farage also dramatically accused Labour of conspiring to stop Mr Nuttall joining Hillsborough support groups.

He said: "It's a great shame that for all these years Paul was kept away from the victim support groups for political reasons.

"He tried again and again and again to become part of it, to help, to do whatever needed to be done and they kept him out of it for years."

Mr Nuttall wiped away a tear as the party faithful gave him roaring cheers when he questioned if he had their support.

He told 500 members in a hall round the back of Bolton's Macron Stadium: "Thank you, I'm a bit overwhelmed." Some gave him a standing ovation and one shouted: "Take that!"

Mr Nuttall apologised for two statements that he lost “close personal friends” at Hillsborough – despite blaming them on a press officer.

He said: "I take the blame for the fact that I failed to check what was put on my website in my name. That is my fault and I apologise.

"But I do not apologise for what is a coordinated, cruel and almost evil smear campaign that has been directed towards me. It is based on lies from sources who have not been named.

"It has been a tough week for me but I will not allow them to break me and I will not allow them to break UKIP."