Tim Farron is quitting as leader of the Liberal Democrats saying he cannot carry on in the face of continuing questions over his Christian faith.

He said he had been torn between his religion and serving as a political leader.

"The consequences of the focus on my faith is that I have found myself torn between living as a faithful Christian and serving as a political leader," he said.

"A better, wiser person than me may have been able to deal with this more successfully, to have remained faithful to Christ while leading a political party in the current environment.

"To be a political leader - especially of a progressive, liberal party in 2017 - and to live as a committed Christian, to hold faithfully to the Bible's teaching, has felt impossible for me."

Party members have praised Mr Farron, including former leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was voted out of his Sheffield seat in the election.

Mr Clegg said on Twitter: "This must have been an agonising decision given Tim's lifelong dedication to the Liberal Democrats.

"I'm not a man of faith, but I'm sure I was not alone in being moved by the way Tim spoke about the struggle he found in balancing his faith and his politics.

"Tim grew the party at a crucial time and he will always be rightly remembered for that."

Returning Twickenham MP Vince Cable, former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills,  has been tipped as one of the favourites to take over from Mr Farron.

He has previously served as the party's acting leader and deputy leader.

Others hotly tipped for the leadership include Jo Swinson, MP for East Dunbartonshire, North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and Kingston and Surbiton MP Ed Davey, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.