LABOUR says it takes all complaints of anti-Semitism 'extremely seriously' after concerns were raised over a candidate's social media post highlighting the 'success' of the Nazis.

Labour’s Stockton Heath parish councillor Nick Bent – who has twice stood as a parliamentary candidate in Warrington South – has submitted a formal complaint to the party about the matter.

It relates to a Facebook post from Laura Watson into the Penketh Community Pages group on July 29.

Ms Watson is one of the party’s borough council candidates in next year’s all-out election in the Great Sankey South ward.

A placard a man is holding in the image alongside the post read: “The people who hid Anne Frank were breaking the law. The people who killed her were following it.”

And the post itself read: “Thank you everyone that came to the Psychology taster session today.

“Hopefully you can all explain the Psychology behind the ‘success’ of the Nazis now.

“I look forwards to meeting you all again in September.

“I’ll set up a Facebook page for the class and will email enrolment forms out to everyone that still needs them.”

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who kept a diary while she and her family were being sheltered from the Nazis during the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War Two.

But she was discovered and later died in a concentration camp.

Mr Bent labelled the post as ‘atrocious’, ‘disturbing’, ‘offensive’ and ‘potentially anti-Semitic’.

He says whether it was made with ‘anti-Semitic intent or not’, it is a ‘grossly insensitive and damaging thing to do and brings the party into disrepute’.

The politician called for the party to investigate the matter and believes Ms Watson should be suspended by Labour while any investigation takes place.

The Labour Party says it cannot comment on individual cases but has issued a statement.

A spokesman said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.

“All complaints about anti-Semitism are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”

Ms Watson has been asked about whether the post has been deleted.

She confirmed she has received no correspondence from Labour over the issue but declined to comment further.