FORMER Bournemouth travel chief Stephen Bath hosted Ukip leader Nigel Farage at a major travel conference in Malta.

The ex-Bath Travel boss is a Director of the Institute of Travel and Tourism and Mr Farage was the guest speaker at its annual conference.

Mr Bath attended social events with Mr Farage and listened to his keynote speech where he talked of his wish to reduce the power and control of the European Union.

Mr Farage’s presence at the conference has been criticised because his colleagues were campaigning in the Newark by-election at the time.