The Catholic church in the UK has said it is "appalled" by UKIP's proposals to stop the children of new immigrants from attending state schools for five years.

Instead migrants would have to pay for private education until their children qualified.

Mr Farage said it was "not unusual" for countries to require new migrants to pay for healthcare and education and Britain would replicate "most countries in the world" by doing so.

Responding to UKIP leader Nigel Farage's comments about the education of immigrants' children, Bishop Pat Lynch, chair of the Bishops' Conference office for migration, said: "The UK has a long, proud and humane tradition of responding to the needs of immigrants' children.

"It is proven that education is a key element in integrating diverse communities. I recognise that in some places there are strains on resource but as a society we need to respond to this need rather than scapegoating any one group. I am appalled by any suggestion of discriminating against immigrants."

The What We Stand For section of UKIP's website says: "Immigrants must financially support themselves and their dependants for five years. This means private health insurance (except emergency medical care), education and housing, they should pay into the pot before they take out of it."