John Lee, who is standing in a North Norfolk District Council by-election this month, also used his Facebook account to mock cancer sufferers and dismiss a minute's silence held for Muslim victims of a terrorist attack.

The posts date back around a decade, when the candidate was in his late teens and they have since been deleted. However, copies of the messages have been seen by this newspaper.

Mr Lee, who is standing in Cromer's Suffield Park ward on July 9, said he was "deeply embarrassed" by the posts and said they reflected "a person I no longer recognise".

In one message, he wrote: "I just got cancer. Look on the upside, at least you didn't........

© Eastern Daily Press