A Ukip activist has accused opposition groups of “dirty tricks” ahead of a visit by controversial party leader Nigel Farage.

Brighton and Hove party chairman Nigel Carter branded the opposition groups “disgraceful”

ahead of the June 3 meeting at Hove Town Hall.

He claims anti-Ukip groups have been spreading rumours that the meeting has been cancelled in an attempt to stop people attending.

Party leader Mr Farage is is also an MEP for the South East.

The Hove Town Hall meeting will see Mr Farage speak on a panel alongside other party members.

Mr Carter said: “I’ve had calls from people asking why the meeting has been cancelled?

“There has been absolutely no talk of cancelling the meeting.

It is and always has been going ahead.

“Apparently messages have been posted on Facebook and Twitter.

“It is the usual dirty tricks trying to disrupt our progress.

It’s disgraceful really.

“They go around calling us right wing and extremist, but in reality they are the extremists, we are the common sense party.”

The party has seen an increase in membership and popularity over the last few years.

In May, they took seven seats in the East Sussex County Council elections and 10 seats in West Sussex.

Mr Carter said: “It is a very exciting time for the area.

“People are not happy with what they have, they want a new party, they want Ukip.

“You get used to all this disruption as a member of Ukip.

“It’s rather pathetic and just really irritating.

“They’ve got it into their minds that we are far right.

They are deluded. It is like psychological problem. They are brainwashed.

“The meeting will be going ahead.”

At the Edinburgh meeting on May 16, the party leader needed a police escort after he was cornered in a pub by protesters.

The event is billed as an opportunity for the party leader to set out and explain his policies.

Organisers expect around 400 people to attend.