A CONSERVATIVE councillor from Bolton has been suspended as the party looks into allegations of Islamophobia.

Cllr Derek Bullock, who was elected in Hulton last year, has been suspended from the Tories pending further investigation.

The suspension is a neutral act for an investigation to take place and does not imply any wrong doing.

It comes after anti-fascism advocacy group HOPE Not Hate called on the Conservative Party to take "decisive steps" to deal with its Islamophobia "crisis".

Cllr Bullock was named on a list of councillors, activists and members accused of sharing anti-Muslim content online.

He allegedly posted an article on social media from JihadiWatch about former party chairman Sayeeda Warsi commenting, "she's been a cuckoo in the nest."

Cllr Bullock also shared a Daily Mail article about the number of Muslim children in England and Wales doubling over a decade, adding: "the clock is ticking."

Council leader David Greenhalgh said: “All those found to be party members have been suspended immediately, pending investigation. The swift action we take on not just anti-Muslim discrimination, but discrimination of any kind is testament to the seriousness with which we take these issues.”