Two racist leaflets have been distributed in Liverpool against Jewish candidates.

The leaflets were distributed in the neighbouring constituencies of Wavertree and Riverside in Liverpool. The sitting MP, Louise Ellman, is standing again in Riverside while Luciana Berger is standing in Wavertree.

The leaflets attack both women for their support of and contacts with Israel. One is headed "Don't vote for Friends of Israel", a reference to Ms Berger as director of Labour Friends of Israel.

The other, headed "Labour is counting on your blind loyalty and ignorance", attacks Mrs Ellman for allegedly not listening to her constituents' views over Israel's action in Gaza last year. Ms Berger is referred to as Mrs Ellman's "protégée" in one and Mrs Ellman as her "mentor" in the other.

Ms Berger said: "It seems there are no depths to which one's political opponents will not stoop." Mrs Ellman said: "There's no imprint on them but the leaflets are extremely unpleasant and the work of extremists. I may pass them over to the police."