A Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate who is facing "serious" criminal allegations has been forced to stand down.
Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg said David Murray had "done the right thing" by withdrawing as the party's candidate in The Wrekin, Shropshire.
West Mercia Police refused to comment about the nature of their investigation but Mr Clegg said: "The allegations are serious."
A Lib Dem spokesman said: "Mr Murray, on the advice of the party, has withdrawn as the candidate in the forthcoming election."
Mr Clegg said: "I take these allegations very, very seriously. I think the right thing has been done, the candidate has stood down and it's now in the hands of the police.
"The allegations are serious but I can't tell you where they have come from. It's now very much for the police to do the job that only they can do."
Asked whether it would damage his party's image, he said: "Of course it is self-evidently not a good thing when a candidate has to face serious allegations.
"But I think in this case, the candidate has done the right thing and stood down immediately."
Mr Murray's profile has been removed from the Lib-Dems' website. Alyson Cameron-Daw has now been selected to contest the seat for the party on May 6.
