Harry Potter author JK Rowling has hit back at Jeremy Corbyn supporters who compare the Labour leader to her character Dumbledore.

Backers of Mr Corbyn say he is a socialist version of the popular headmaster who sports a flowing white beard in Ms Rowling's best-selling series of wizard novels.

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However, the writer is not happy about the comparison, telling her eight million Twitter followers: "Corbyn. Is. Not. Dumbledore."

The author linked the tweet to an article stating that Mr Corbyn was paid up to £20,000 for appearances on the Iranian news channel Press TV which was banned in Britain for its part in filming the detention and torture of a journalist.

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Ms Rowling has previously criticised linking the Labour leader with Dumbledore, stating: "I forgot Dumbledore trashed Hogwarts, refused to resign and ran off to the forest to make speeches to angry trolls."

In an internet interview with Pink News, Mr Corbyn defended his appearances on Press TV.

The Labour leader said: "I presented programmes in which I was able to raise a number of human rights issues.

"I did that and the money I was paid - which wasn't an enormous amount - went to my constituency office."

People were "free to make the criticism they wish", but he had "used the opportunities to address issues of the Western relationship with the whole region, address issues in Iran and address issues of human rights", said Mr Corbyn.