Nigel Farage has agreed to step back in as party leader but only on a temporary basis after the shock decision by his successor Diane James, a South East MEP, to quit after just 18 days.

Mr Farage, who lives near Sevenoaks and unsuccessfully fought to become South Thanet MP, initially said he would not be returning even though party rules technically meant the role reverts back to him.

But he then agreed to return to the job, saying it would be on an interim basis. He said he understood the strain the job involved and that he felt sorry for Mrs James.

"When you take this job your life finishes. This is what you are 24/7, there is nothing else. I think she looked down the barrel of that and thought 'this is not how I want to live my life'."

Ms James released a statement last night confirming she was leaving the job.

The news has created turmoil in the party and left it in disarray. UKIP county councillor Mike Baldock of Swale said he was shocked.

"I am very disappointed as I had high hopes for the party under Diane James. But I do not think Nigel Farage should be hounded back into the job," he said.

He added that the news did not "make it easier" to contest a forthcoming by-election in Medway, where the party is defending a seat in South Strood.

"It does not make it any easier but sometimes the media and politicians can make too much of these events - people vote for a lot of different reasons."

He announced he was quitting last month after the Brexit vote, saying he had got his country back and now wanted his life back

Mrs James, an MEP for South East England said she did not have "sufficient authority" to see through changes she had planned.

Ms James succeeded Nigel Farage on 16 September after he quit in the wake of the UK's vote to leave the EU.

The news comes ahead of a by-election in Medway which UKIP is defending for the Strood South ward.