Conservative MP Bob Stewart has been charged with public order offences relating to a “racially aggravated” incident in December last year.

Police say the 73-year-old has been charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour and that the offence was racially aggravated.

He was also charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The alleged offence took place outside the Foreign Office at an event hosted by the embassy of Bahrain.