Police are investigating hateful comments made towards a candidate in a recent by-election.

The Hertsmere Labour party says it has reported Hertsmere Conservatives to the police for "inciting racial hatred".

The Labour Party says Conservatives shared a news story in the Jewish Chronicle about candidate Dr Dan Ozarow's support for Jeremy Corbyn's stance on Hamas and Hezbollah on social media and in letters to Jewish households.

As a result of this, Dr Ozarow says he received abuse on social media and in emails.

Labour leader Cllr Jeremy Newmark has also claimed the Kenilworth by-election, held in Borehamwood on February 13, was "stolen" from Dr Ozarow on the basis of an "organised and orchestrated campaign".

The party lost its Kenilworth seat to the Tories' Brett Rosehill by 776 votes to 665. Dr Ozarow had lost in the May local elections when lots were drawn after a tied ballot with a Labour colleague.

In an open letter published on his campaign website, losing candidate Dan Ozarow wrote he was defeated last week following a "vicious" campaign against him by Hertsmere Conservatives or their supporters.

He added in his letter that he was branded a "terrorist sympathiser, a Marxist, a self-hating Jew".

He also hit out at leaflets which he said were put through the doors of Jewish residents on polling day in an attempt to "smear him".

Dr Ozarow, who is Jewish, cited an article published by the Jewish Chronicle three days before the election, about a letter he signed in 2015 arguing that Jeremy Corbyn had "nothing to apologise for" in his meetings with representatives of terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

In the article, Dr Ozarow claimed he "never saw the final text" of the letter and was unaware of other "anti-Semitic" signatories.

He claims in his open letter that the article was run to "scare voters away".

Hertsmere Labour produced screenshots of online abuse received after the Chronicle's story was widely shared on social media.

One post on Facebook of Dr Ozarow pictured canvassing is captioned 'Jew hating Jew c***' while Dr Ozarow alleges another abusive comment he received was "to go and die in the gas chambers".

Borehamwood Times:

A Facebook post of Dr Ozarow, centre, captioned 'Jew hating Jew c***'

The Hertsmere Conservatives say the abusive comments did not come from its members.

In a statement, the Tory party added: "It is always unfortunate if people choose to abuse others online as a consequence of anything they read.

"Social media should be an avenue for a grown-up debate.

"Yes, of course, we shared the Jewish Chronicle story which had been published and in the public domain. It is not a made-up story or fake Facebook account and it is on a subject that people feel strongly and passionately about. As we do.

"This story is not a fake story and we have no qualms in sharing it."

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it is investigating social media comments made towards a candidate, in the run up to the by-election in Borehamwood. The force added enquiries are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further.