Paul Nuttall's website taken offline

Credit: PA.

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall's website has been taken offline days after he faced criticism over posts which wrongly claimed he lost "close personal friends" in the Hillsborough disaster.

Just days away from contesting a parliamentary by-election in Stoke-on-Trent, Mr Nuttall is now facing calls to resign as an MEP and was branded a "coward" after a party press officer offered to take the blame over the posts.

Mr Nuttall has apologised over the claim, carried on his official website forat least six years, after he was forced to admit it was wrong during a liveradio interview.

Today a message on paulnuttallmep.com said the site was offline for"scheduled maintenance"

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has called on the UKIP leader to "explain himself to the people of Liverpool."He told the Guardian:

Mr Nuttall has stood by his account that he was at the stadium when tragedy struck on April 15 1989. Credit: PA/BBC.

Mr Nuttall has stood by his account that he was at the stadium when tragedy struck on April 15 1989.However families of some of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the disaster have voiced their anger at the false claim that he lost close personal friends.Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, was among the victims, said the UKIP leader's credibility had "gone out of the window" and branded the post insensitive, saying: "We don't need this kind of thing from Paul Nuttall. He should know better as a politician and leader of UKIP." Hillsborough Family Support Group chairwoman Margaret Aspinall told LBC radio:

Hillsborough Family Support Group chairwoman Margaret Aspinall spoke to LBC radio. Credit: ITV News.

Mr Nuttall apologised on Tuesday for the claim - contained in at least twopress releases on his website - after being challenged during an interview with Radio City Talk in Liverpool. He told presenter Dave Easton:

"I haven't lost a close personal friend, I've lost someone who I know. I haven't put that out, that is wrong."

Mr Nuttall apologised on Tuesday for the claim. Credit: ITV News.

On Tuesday UKIP press officer Lynda Roughley said she was "entirelyresponsible" for the website post and had offered her resignation.A UKIP spokesman said on Wednesday that the resignation had been rejected, adding: "Obviously Paul is grateful for her offer, but what sort of chap would he be to say her career is dead for what seems to be a minor error six years ago?"

In a statement Mr Nuttall made clear he stands by his account of being present at the disaster as a 12-year-old fan, after doubts were raised by the Guardian:

Full list of candidates contesting in the Stoke Central by-election:

  • Mohammad Akram - Independent

  • Zulfiqar Ali - Lib Dem

  • Jack Brereton - Conservative

  • The Incredible Flying Brick - Monster Raving Loony Party

  • Adam Colclough - Greens

  • Godfrey Davies - Christian Peoples Party

  • Barbara Fielding - Independent

  • David Furness - BNP

  • Paul Nuttall - UKIP

  • Gareth Snell - Labour

You can keep up with updates about the by-election in Stoke-on-Trent Central here.