New Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has apologised after a post on his Twitter feed suggested gay people could be "cured".

Farron insisted hackers had accessed his account and written the message in response to a tweet from the British Humanist Association (BHA).

The BHA had cited a study showing some health workers in the UK believe "homosexuality is curable".

The reply from @timfarron said: "They can be, most sexual disorientation is caused by chemical leaching ... check out fish and frogs."

The message was later deleted.

Farron stressed that he actually wanted to "ban conversion therapy".

"I am investigating after a fake and malicious tweet appeared to be posted from my account," he wrote.

"I apologise for any offence caused."

Farron’s Christian outlook was scrutinised recently after he was asked whether he believed gay sex was a sin.