A Conservative Holyrood candidate, who is confined to a wheelchair, has claimed he suffered a barrage of abuse by anti-austerity protestors at his party conference.

Eric Holford, candidate for Airdrie and Shotts in the May 2016 elections, said he was described as a "traitor" to disabled people for supporting the Tory party.

Mr Holford, of Lanark, said protestors with skeletons in wheelchairs taunted him for supporting the austerity party while arriving in a disability scooter.

There were ugly scenes as MPs, MSPs, party members, journalists, lobbyists and staff at the conference centre were called "scum" as the demonstrators protested outside the Manchester venue.

Police made 15 arrests and five people were charged after people took part in a demonstration in protest at government policies as the conference opened and which continued throughout the event.

Yesterday Tory Nigel Evans MP told the Commons the verbal attacks were "tantamount to hate crimes" and criticised the police response had been "totally inadequate" at last week's conference.

Financial adviser Mr Holford said he was shocked by the level of abuse he received attending the conference.

He said: "Each morning on entry, and each evening on leaving, I had to run the gauntlet of some of the most offensive protesters I've ever seen or heard.

"I now know, beyond reasonable doubt, that I am 'Tory scum'.

"This I know because it was shouted at me incessantly and very loudly."

He added: "However, on Tuesday l was singled out for particular attention.

"I have a condition known as Incomplete Tetraplegia, or I am paralysed to varying degrees in all my limbs.

"This means that I can only walk a few metres, and even then I need a stick or crutches.

"For anything more I use an electric disability scooter.

"This means that I am not 'just' a 'Tory scum', but I am also a 'traitor'."

He said: "The protesters had a number of wheelchairs occupied by skeletons with placards round their necks saying 'Passed Fit For Work'.

"To them, therefore, as a person with a disability, I should see Tories and especially Department of Work and Pensions minister Iain Duncan Smith as the Devil

incarnate."

He said he felt the protestors were allowed to get too close those attended the conference.

"I can't point the finger at one group, but it was unpleasant."

Greater Manchester Police said 60,000 people took part in demonstrations and "the overwhelming majority of people have exercised their democratic right to protest with dignity and good grace""

Police Minister Mike Penning told MPs yesterday Greater Manchester Police was reviewing its work at the event, where a small number of noisy protesters surrounded the gate throughout the conference shouting at most people who arrived. Some journalists and activists were spat at or pelted with eggs.

About 70,000 people protested against Government policy peacefully on the first day of the event.

Mr Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, said: "I have been going to Conservative party conference for over 30 years and there has always been high-profile policing at these conferences.

"But this is the first one in 30 years that I witnessed those working in hotels and the conference centre, and delegates, having to run a gauntlet of demonstrators who shouted vile abuse at people - which were tantamount to hate crimes - spitting and the throwing of eggs."