GAY sex is not a sin, Tim Farron has made clear after the Liberal Democrat leader endured days of pressure to clarify his personal stance on the issue.

The Cumbrian MP, a devout Christian, faced criticism for failing to answer directly questions about his position on homosexuality.

Last week, after coming under fire from celebrities and fellow politicians, he said he did not think being gay was a sin. Facing more media questions, he repeated the response, adding how he was "getting tired of this line of questioning".

Answering questions at a campaign event on Monday, he made clear that he supported equal marriage and LGBT rights but again refused to say whether or not he regarded gay sex as a sin.

However in a BBC interview, he has now made his view clear, saying: "I don't believe gay sex is a sin. I take the view that as a political leader though my job is not to pontificate on theological matters.

"It seems to me that there is a General Election on at the moment, we need to be talking about big issues; health, social care, education, whether we're in the single market or not. And it occurs to me really that this had become a talking point, an issue."

Asked why he had not been clear earlier, Mr Farron replied: "I was asked the question early on and I didn't want to get into a sort of series of questions unpicking the theology of the Bible. What I want is to make sure we deal with something that's become an issue."

Asked if he would maintain one Christian view privately and a separate different view publicly, he replied: "Well no, you asked me a question about what I felt about first of all, people who are gay and indeed also about gay sex, and I have said no, I do not feel that they are sinful.

"And that's something that's important to say when people get the wrong idea of you," he added.