The favourite to take over as Ukip leader Steven Woolfe collapsed at the European Parliament today and was rushed to hospital with suspected bleeding on the brain, after an altercation at a meeting of his party's MEPs.

Sources reported that Mr Woolfe was punched in the face after exchanges at the gathering became heated, before stumbling and hitting his head.

Interim leader Nigel Farage said the Ukip immigration spokesman was in a "serious condition" after the incident, but later said he had regained consciousness. The latest reports suggested he was talking.

Mr Woolfe, Mr Farage and Ukip's other MEPs had attended the meeting at the parliament building in Strasbourg to discuss the party's leadership crisis. But the discussion became tense, with Ukip MEP Roger Helmer telling The Independent: "There were some lively words exchanged."

According to Sky News, Mr Woolfe was punched by a colleague before staggering and knocking his head on a bar. He was seemingly alright after the fight and went to vote.

But later on Mr Woolfe was seen to collapse on one of the building's internal bridges. He reportedly told the person who rushed over to assist him that he had "lost the feeling down one side of his body".

Ukip MEP Nathan Gill, who was at the hospital in Strasbourg, later told Politico reporter Tara Palmeri that Mr Woolfe was "conscious and recovering".

It comes just one day after Mr Woolfe put himself forward to be the party’s next leader, following the shock resignation of Diane James.

As early reports of the incident emerged, Mr Farage released a statement which said: "I deeply regret that following an altercation that took place at a meeting of Ukip MEPs this morning, that Steven Woolfe subsequently collapsed and was taken to hospital. His condition is serious."

A UKIP Spokesman said: “Steven Woolfe MEP was taken suddenly ill in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg this morning.

“He has been taken to hospital in the city and he is undergoing tests.”

Nigel Farage still Ukip leader after Diane James resignation

Ms James said: "My thoughts are with [Steven Woolfe] and his wife and daughter at this anxious time and I wish Steven a speedy and full recovery."

Ukip's MP Douglas Carswell said he was "shocked and appalled" to hear what had happened, adding that he was "thinking of him", while fellow Ukip politician Suzanne Evans posted that she was "wishing him well for a speedy recovery."

Only last night he won the backing of the influential Ukip donor Arron Banks, who said Mr Woolfe "is the one candidate who can do it" when it comes to replacing Mr Farage as leader. But reports emerged on Twitter just before noon today that he had been taken ill.

He recently said he was tempted to defect to the Tories after Theresa May took over, before deciding that Ukip was the only party that could ensure Brexit.

In a statement, he said: "Her support of new grammar schools, her words on social mobility and the growing evidence that she is committed to a clean Brexit prompted me, as it did many of my friends and colleagues, to wonder whether our future was within her new Conservative Party.

"However, having watched the Prime Minister's speech on Sunday I came to the conclusion that only a strong Ukip can guarantee Brexit is delivered in full and only our party can stand up for the communities of the Midlands and the North."

Mr Woolfe was forced to pull out of the last leadership contest after handing in his nomination papers 17 minutes late.

Ms James was eventually declared winner on September 16, only to quit 18 days later for "personal and professional" reasons, citing a lack of support among the party's MEPs and officials.