DUDLEY’S UKIP leadership candidate Bill Etheridge has withdrawn from the contest and called on rivals to back current deputy leader Paul Nuttall.

The West Midlands MEP and Sedgley councillor said Mr Nuttall's declaration on Sunday had prompted him to step down, as he was the only candidate who could unite the party as it dealt with "recent well publicised problems".

Cllr Etheridge was one of eight people vying to lead the party, with Mr Nuttall and former Conservative councillor Suzanne Evans viewed as the frontrunners.

In a withdrawal statement cllr Etheridge said: "I always said that if a candidate better suited to take this party forward emerged I would back down and support them. That candidate has emerged.

"Paul Nuttall is not only a personal friend and an honourable man but I believe he is the only person who can effectively unite our party after the recent well publicised problems we have suffered.

"I will be supporting Paul and giving him my 100 per cent backing. I call on all other potential candidates to follow my example and withdraw from the race to allow Paul to go forward from here and unite our party."

Former party chief Nigel Farage stepped back into his role on a temporary basis after the resignation of Diane James just 18 days after she had been elected leader by UKIP members.

UKIP was then rocked again when Steven Woolfe, who was the frontrunner to replace Ms James, left in the wake of an altercation with another party member after which he ended up in hospital.

Cllr Etheridge had promised to unite the party's warring factions after months of infighting described by Mr Woolfe as a "death spiral of their own making".

As he quit the race, cllr Etheridge, who was elected in 2014, said he believed UKIP "must remain a patriotic, libertarian party standing for the individual against the over-powerful state, and not be tempted into cultural nationalism and the so-called centre ground on economic policy."

His withdrawal leaves seven candidates in the contest, after former UKIP parliamentary hopeful John Rees-Evans announced his intention to stand on Monday.

Cllr Etheridge was joined in his decision to back Mr Nutall by fellow UKIP councillors in Dudley borough.

Dudley’s UKIP group leader, Councillor Paul Brothwood, said: “We were all enthused when Paul declared his bid to lead the party. Paul has worked tirelessly to support us in the Midlands and helped us build our number of elected officials and membership.”

“There is a massive opportunity for UKIP post the referendum and we all believe Paul is the right person to lead us in this journey. With his level of his support we expect other candidates will do the right thing and step aside.”

“Paul is a natural statesman who has the proven abilities to lead and win elections. He has the full respect of grassroots members as well as senior officials which, will enable him to lead us to new victories.”

Councillor Dean Perks, deputy group leader, added: “During this time of change for UKIP and the country, Paul is the senior unifying figure that the party requires, we have no hesitation in supporting such a loyal and established member.”