Candidate held after by-election incident.

Fathers-4-Justice candidate Paul Watson was arrested early today after an incident following Labour's victory in the Hartlepool by-election.

Liberal Democrat Jodie Dunn, who finished second, had to leave the podium after her post-result speech in which a bag of powder was allegedly poured over her blonde hair.

The incident came amid constant barracking of Ms Dunn by other Fathers-4-Justice campaigners, who she described as "childish".

Mr Watson told those gathered after the count: "This purple powder is for equality, Fathers-4-Justice are seeking equality in the family courts."

Mother-of-four Ms Dunn said: "It's a shame we are not afforded the dignity to say something on our own success this evening but instead this becomes a platform for an organisation which actually does discredit for the cause they serve."

Mr Watson was later released on police bail and is due back for further questioning later this month.

The Tories were dealt a devastating blow in the poll as the anti-EU United Kingdom Independence Party beat them into fourth place. It was a severe embarrassment for leader Michael Howard ahead of the party's annual conference next week. Labour's majority was slashed from 14,000 to just over 2,000. Iain Wright polled 12,752 to Jody Dunn's 10,719.