UKIP has denied distributing leaflets in Penarth accusing other parties of backing state benefits for extremists.

The leaflet, referring to the London-raised Islamic State fighter "Jihadi John", was reported to police in Penarth.

South Wales Police are now investigating the origin of the leaflets mailed to voters in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency.

The two-sided leaflet urged people to vote UKIP if they objected to welfare payments to the families of extremists, or said they should support another party if they wanted "a jihadi for a neighbour".

UKIP said no-one at the party authorised or printed the leaflet, which bore no official logo

UKIP’s candidate in Cardiff South and Penarth, Mr John Rees-Evans, said whoever distributed the leaflets was "underhand and dishonest".

He added: “I’m aware that some of our political opponents have used some dubious practices in the past, such as accusing us of espousing all sorts of policies which we have never expressed.

"I’m frankly shocked that somebody, who is somehow involved in the political campaigning process in the run up to the General Election, has been willing to take the risk of doing something so obviously underhand and dishonest when in fact there are a limited number of people who have access to the electoral register. I can only guess as to who’s behind it and I’m very keen for the Police to make progress with their investigations.”

According to Section 110 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, it is an offence to publish any election leaflet without including the name and address of the printer or publisher during what is known as the ‘short campaign’ which begins when Parliament rises this Friday.

“It is patently obvious that the Representation of the People Act needs amending to make it illegal for any person or organization, to deliberately misrepresent the policies of a political party, such as has happened to UKIP on numerous occasions recently, during either the long or short campaigns,” said Mr Rees-Evans.