Diane Abbott has spoken of how she has been repeatedly labelled a "n*****" in a stream of racist and sexist abuse.

The shadow home secretary revealed the extent of the "mindless abuse" she has received as an MP through emails and social media, and said the online attacks had got worse in recent years.

Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on the intimidation and abuse of candidates in elections, Ms Abbott said she had received rape and death threats, and had been described as an "ugly fat black bitch" and a "n*****".

Ms Abbott told the debate: "We are talking about mindless abuse and in my case the mindless abuse has been characteristically racist and sexist.

"And just to outline I've had death threats, I've had people tweeting that I should be hung if 'they could find a tree big enough to take the fat bitch's weight'.

"There was an EDL affiliated Twitter account #BurnDianeAbbott, I've had rape threats, described as a pathetic, useless fat black, piece of shit, ugly fat black bitch and n*****.

"N***** over and over again."

Ms Abbott said one of her members of staff said the "most surprising thing" about working for her was how often she "has to read the word n*****" in emails, on Twitter and Facebook.