A Catholic priest who tried to read the last rites to MP Sir David Amess before he died has quit social media after facing a torrent of abuse for "not doing enough".

Father Jeffrey Woolnough tried to administer the last rites to the Catholic MP after he was stabbed in Leigh on October 15.

But he claimed police did not allow him to deliver the sacrament inside Belfairs Methodist Church, where Sir David was attacked, as it had been declared a crime scene.

Fr Woolnough, who instead delivered the last rights outside the church, said that he's since deleted his Twitter account after receiving "hurtful" messages about the incident.

He told the BBC: "I was trying to let people know I had tried my very best but apparently my best wasn't good enough.

"Most people have been so kind with messages of support, others have accused me of capitulating at the scene.

"The police have a job to do. When I say I have to respect it, it doesn't mean I agree with it."

The reading of the last rites is a Catholic tradition whereby final prayers are read to a believer before they die.