Former footballer and TV sports presenter Gary Lineker has come under fire after retweeting a post by “Rachael Swindon” - real name Rachael Cousins - who is one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most ardent online supporters and who has posted antisemitic material in the past.

Ms Cousins' past tweets include a conspiracy theory linking the Rothschild family to the Syrian Civil War and a demand for Board of Deputies to condemn and apologise for the actions of Israel. Both tweets were later deleted.

Mr Lineker retweeted a post by Ms Cousins about a 100-year-old Londoner walking 100 laps around his communal garden to raise money for charities including some that distribute aid to Gaza, Syria and Yemen.

When her Ms Cousins' Twitter history was pointed out to Mr Lineker, he deleted his retweet and wrote: “Well I won’t be retweeting those tweets.”

Several of his 7.5 million followers further were unhappy with his response, with one pointing out: “This is @GaryLineker's response to discovering someone he has retweeted shares antisemitic conspiracy theories. In other news I’d like to say I’ll only be retweeting Hitler’s watercolours. Not all the other stuff. But you must follow him for his paintings!”

Later Mr Lineker wrote: “I’d never heard of her. I’m not legitimising her, I supported a 100-year-old chap who’s doing something brilliant.”