New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner has admitted sending lewd messages to a woman, two years after he quit Congress following a similar scandal.

He said he would not drop out of the race after an unnamed woman told a gossip website that she had had an online relationship with Mr Weiner last year.

The married Jewish former Congressman has been the leading Democratic candidate in the mayoral election, which will be decided in November.

He said he was "very sorry" for the latest revelations and told reporters: "This behaviour is behind me. I've apologised to my wife, Huma, and I'm grateful that she has worked through these issues with me and that I've had her forgiveness.

“I want to again say how very sorry I am to anyone who was on the receiving end of these messages and the disruption that this has caused.”

Mr Weiner had been attempting to repair his reputation since he was first hit by controversy after sending explicit photos of himself and had "inappropriate" internet and telephone exchanges with six women in 2011.