AN MP was trolled by a "vile individual" on social media who told him he was "glad his baby is dead".

Colchester's Will Quince was repeatedly targeted over several hours yesterday on Twitter by the same account.

The campaign of hatred came after Mr Quince posted a blog hitting out at Labour claims babies would die if the Tories win the Copeland by-election.

In response, user The Horse Respecter Tweeted: "Glad his Tory baby is dead."

Mr Quince and his wife Elinor sadly lost their baby boy Robert in October 2014 after he was born with Edwards' Syndrome, which is not compatible with life.

In his role as MP, he has since been campaigning for the Government to improve bereavement suites in maternity units so other parents would get the same care he and his wife did at Colchester General Hospital.

Mr Quince, who retweeted the first attack to his followers, said: "The best way forward is to publicise it and to show what a vile individual he or she clearly is.

"One thing I developed when I became an MP, which I didn't always have, was a thick skin.

"Politics is a business which is pretty cut and thrust and sometimes it can eve get aggressive.

"I don't mind that as politics is passionate.

"But this person has clearly gone out of their way to be offensive and vile.

"Thank goodness my wife isn't on Twitter because she would have been livid."

Mr Quince added: "I have had so many messages of support from people across the political spectrum saying they don't support me or what I was saying, but what has been sent to me is inexcusable and they are reporting it. It means a lot.

"Politics is about debate. It's not about saying ghastly things."