A Tory councillor has vehemently denied allegations he assaulted an MP’s aide at a nightclub.

Essex county councillor Stephen Canning, 25, who serves as the vice chairman of the place scrutiny committee, has been accused of assault at Maggie’s, a Margaret Thatcher-themed bar in London.

A series of messages, including some purporting to come from him, have been released via Facebook.

But in a statement today he said: “I do not know what messages you refer to though have recently became aware of a Facebook screenshot depicting a situation that bears no resemblance to anything that has occurred.

“Sharing that or insinuating that involves myself discussing any sort of assault or incident is an outright lie.

“I have begun legal proceedings against those who have shared, continue to share and publish these whilst claiming they in any way depict myself discussing any sort of incident ever occurring.”

In a statement online Mr Canning denied any involvement in a scuffle.

He added: “I have had no allegations of assault put to me by the Conservative Party.

“I have not been involved in any incidents in the nightclub’s bar.

“I deny in the strongest possible way anything of this sort ever taking place, and look forward to continuing to serve the Conservatives as a councillor .”

Mr Canning, who studied at Colchester Sixth Form College, was the Conservative Party agent in Clacton last year when Giles Watling took the seat in the General Election.

Two years earlier, he had been suspended as Conservative Future’s deputy chairman, along with the entire national executive committee, following allegations about a fellow activist.

The Conservative youth movement was later disbanded.

Mr Canning became one of the country’s youngest district councillors when he was elected to Braintree Council at the age of 18.

He became the county council’s youngest councillor when he was elected aged 22 and previously served as the cabinet member for digital innovation.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “We do not comment on investigations.”