Four candidates will battle it out to become the new leader of Ukip after a former aide to Nigel Farage quit the race hours before nominations closed.

Former deputy leader Paul Nuttall and Suzanne Evans, ex-deputy party chairman, are the candidates considered most likely to take the top job on November 28.

John Rees-Evans, who stood in Wales for the party at the general election, and London Assembly member Peter Whittle have also made it on to the ballot paper.

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It comes after Raheem Kassam announced he was pulling out of the contest because "the path to victory is too narrow".

MEP Steven Woolfe, who was considered the frontrunner, quit the race and the party following an altercation with Ukip MEP Mike Hookem in the European Parliament which left him in hospital.

In the first Ukip leadership contest of the year, Mr Woolfe's bid was rejected when he submitted his nomination papers 17 minutes late.

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Party chairman Paul Oakden said: "I'm pleased to confirm that there were no late, or rejected applications.

"Further information pertaining to the ballot will follow at a later date but for now, I'd like to wish all four candidates the best of luck and will join with our party's members in looking forward to a positive contest."

Mr Kassam revealed that he had not raised enough money for his leadership bid to be any more than a digital campaign based in Westminster.

He accused Ukip of treating the leadership election "like a coronation" and called for his supporters to back Mr Whittle.

"After much consideration, I have decided not to pursue my campaign to be Ukip leader any further," he said.

"This was a very difficult decision, and I want to thank everyone who supported me in the process.

"It is a decision I have not taken lightly, but following meetings this weekend I realised the path to victory is too narrow.

"I would encourage my supporters to back Peter Whittle, who I think would make a fantastic leader of the party."

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Mr Kassam had the backing of Ukip's biggest donor Arron Banks, but he revealed they "never discussed money".

He tweeted: "Arron did not pull his support but I never wanted to take big cheques from singular donors. We never discussed money."

He also said he would be pursuing a harassment complaint against a reporter from The Times.

"I am tough and I can take it, but when Times journalists show up at my elderly parents' house at dusk, intimidating them, I draw the line," Mr Kassam said.