Nigel Farage has branded outgoing US President Barack Obama a "creature" and a "loathsome individual" in an appearance on call-in radio.

The Ukip politician made the comments during a defence of president-elect Donald Trump, who he claimed would be a steadfast friend of Britain.

Farage also joked the Republican should come to the UK to meet Prime Minister Theresa May but not "touch her" in an apparent reference to Trump's coarse comments about women and accusations of sexual assault against him.

The interim Ukip leader told TalkRadio: "For us in the UK the opportunities are really clear. That Obama creature, loathsome individual who couldn't stand our country and said we would be at the back of the queue... What was interesting was that Trump said we would be at the front of the queue."

He added: "However imperfect Donald Trump may be - and my goodness me he is - his mother was Scottish, he owns Turnberry, he spends a lot of time in our country, he loves our country, what we stand for and our culture.

"This is a big opportunity for all British business because we can now do - once we have left that awful EU thing - we can now do our first trade deal with the United States of America, isn't that great?"

Farage, who spoke at Trump rallies and touted the possibility of the billionaire property magnate pulling off a Brexit-style electoral upset, will soon return to the US and "hopefully" have talks with the president-elect.

He said: "I will be encouraging him to make the UK his number one global priority.

"I am going to say 'Come and schmooze Theresa - don't touch her, for goodness sake'

"If it comes to it, I could be there as a responsible adult to make sure everything's OK."

Farage, who said he was "open-minded" about working for the Trump administration, added: "If I can do anything, knowing Trump and knowing his campaign team, to try to make sure that Britain and America have the right relationship which will be good for business and good for the world, I will do everything I can to make sure that happens."

Meanwhile, Ukip MEP William Dartmouth said May should appoint Farage as her ambassador in Washington DC to take advantage of his links to Trump.

"Nigel Farage already has good ties and a relationship with the US president-elect Donald Trump - much better than any one else in British public life," the Ukip deputy chairman argued.

"His appointment would materially assist the UK in getting a UK-USA trade agreement for the first time."