LBC has announced that Nigel Farage has left the station with immediate effect.

The 56-year-old Brexit Party leader has been heavily criticised this week after describing the Black Lives Matter movement as "a far left and Marxist organisation", even comparing the group to the Taliban.

Farage has hosted a nightly talk programme on LBC since January 2017 and was due to hit the airwaves at 6pm tonight but his show will be replaced by an additional hour from Iain Dale.

In a statement, the station said: "Nigel Farage's contract with LBC is up very shortly and, following discussions with him, Nigel is stepping down from LBC with immediate effect. We thank Nigel for the enormous contribution he has made to LBC and wish him well."

Farage has yet to comment on his departure from the station.