Raheem Kassam, a former aide to Nigel Farage, has quit the race to become Ukip leader three days after launching his campaign in a Westminster pub.

Nigel Farage’s chief of staff has left his post as the Ukip leader faces rapidly rising pressure to hold on to his job.

Oxford chairman Firoz Kassam has accused his Bristol Rovers counterpart Geoff Dunford of “back-door business” following the suspension of manager Ian Atkins.

Asia reported 17 more Sars deaths today as Beijing officials were ordered to step up efforts to fight the virus and Hong Kong school pupils went back to class wearing surgical masks after a three-week shutdown.