Simon Danczuk has dismissed suggestions he is not fit to remain as an MP, after a wave of criticism over lewd texts he sent to a teenage girl.

The 49-year-old Rochdale MP has blamed a "drink problem" for the sexually-explicit messages he sent to Sophena Houlihan when she was 17.

Speaking outside his constituency office in Rochdale, Mr Danczuk insisted that allegations by ex-partners about his behaviour and issues with alcohol are irrelevant to his role as an MP.

Mr Danczuk said he was planning to carry out visits in his constituency and "have a chat about it".

He has been suspended from the Labour Party while an investigation takes place into his conduct, for which he has apologised "unreservedly".