Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has sacked a General Election candidate facing allegations of anti-Semitism.

Mr Farron denounced former MP David Ward as "unfit to represent the party" and reversed a decision to let him stand for the party on June 8 in his old constituency of Bradford East.

The decision came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May unleashed a broadside at the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons for putting forward a candidate "with questionable views on anti-Semitism".

In a statement issued by the Liberal Democrats, Mr Farron said: "I believe in a politics that is open, tolerant and united.

"David Ward is unfit to represent the party and I have sacked him."

Mr Ward told the Press Association: "I'm stunned and somewhat ashamed of my own party."

He could not say whether he would fight his removal.

Mr Ward sparked accusations of anti-Semitism in 2013 with a blog comparing the treatment of Palestinians by "Jews" to the Holocaust.

He was suspended by the Lib Dems later that year for questioning the continued existence of the "apartheid" state of Israel and was also forced to apologise in 2014 after suggesting he might be ready to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel.

He was put forward as Lib Dem candidate to fight Bradford East in 2015 but lost the seat, which he had held since 2010.

Mr Farron later told a Commons inquiry that he regarded some of Mr Ward's comments as anti-Semitic, but said it was appropriate for him to return to active involvement with the Liberal Democrats after "serving his time" on suspension.

At the final session of Prime Minister's Questions before the June 8 election, Mrs May blasted the decision to allow him to stand for the party again.

"People will be, I think, rightly disappointed to see the Liberal Democrats re-adopt a candidate with a questionable record on anti-Semitism," said the Prime Minister.

"It is important that all parties maintain the strongest possible censure on all forms of intolerance and send that message to our communities."

Her comments came in response to a question from former minister and ex-Bradford councillor Sir Eric Pickles, who said party leaders must do more than "pay lip service" to tackling anti-Semitism.

Sir Eric asked the PM: "Do you share my disgust that a former member of this House, criticised by the Home Affairs Select Committee for his anti-Semitic utterances, is now the official candidate in Bradford East for the Liberal Democrats?"

Mr Farron failed to address the issue when asking Mrs May a question moments later, confining himself to saying that the Conservative Party "has never been nastier" and Britain needs a "decent new opposition".

Mrs May replied: "He talks about a decent opposition. I find it difficult to hear those words coming from his mouth when we have just heard that his party has selected a candidate with questionable views on anti-Semitism."

The chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, Simon Johnson, said: "The action taken by Tim Farron to sack David Ward as a candidate for the 2017 General Election is the right one and we welcome it.

"The selection of David Ward for Bradford East was an error and rightly criticised by politicians from all parties. Mr Ward's views are offensive, and he has been an unrepentant serial offender. It is important that all parties have a zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism".

Mr Ward said he felt "real and deep sadness" over the decision to sack him.

Party officials told he was being kicked out of the seat over anti-Semitic comments and tweets about Saudi Arabia.

Mr Ward said: "The anti-Semitic thing is a nonsense. It is just used, it's a well known tactic, how do you avoid conversation or any criticism about Israel? Just say people are anti-Semitic."

"I am certainly not anti-Semitic."

Mr Ward said his criticism was focused only on the actions of Israel, not Jews.

"I would defy anybody to find any comment I have ever made which is not solely related to what Israel is doing," he added.

"This is all about one thing, let's shut down debate."

Mr Ward said it was a "huge disappointment" that Mr Farron had taken the decision to sack him.

Asked why the leader axed him, he replied: "Just the pressure that they come under, all the party's come under, and it works. The pressure works.

"It's the fear of the electoral damage that can be done by being seen to oppose Israel. It's contaminating and infecting our own political system."

Joe Glasman, of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, said: "Mr Farron deserves no credit for allowing the selection of such unsuitable candidates, then claiming to be powerless to intervene, then sacking them. They should never have been selected at all.

"It is a great shame that Tim Farron only seems to act on anti-Semitism when enough people are watching."