Farage hails 'remarkable' UK Independence Party election results

Nigel Farage today hailed a "remarkable" night for his UK Independence Party in local council elections, which he said put them in with a chance of securing a seat at Westminster.

With many votes yet to be counted, Ukip gained 42 county council seats in England and also claimed second place behind Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election, while the two coalition parties suffered a drubbing.