Two Tories have been suspended from the party following allegations of racism at Oxford University's Conservative Association.

A row broke out after electoral candidates were asked to tell "inappropriate" jokes during hustings for junior officer positions on Sunday afternoon.

Nick Gallagher, the current publications officer and also general editor of the association's magazine Blueprint, allegedly told a racist joke when he was asked to tell the most offensive joke he knew and name his least favourite minority.

He reportedly said: "What do you say when you see a television moving around in the dark? Put it down, you n*****, or I'll shoot you."

The Tories confirmed the two suspensions from the party, and a spokesman said: "People who behave in this disgusting and reprehensible way have no place in the Conservative Party."

Among the other jokes bandied around during what was alleged to have been an alcohol-fuelled meeting was a remark about a black person hanging in a family tree.

According to Cherwell, the student newspaper, one Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) committee member resigned following the controversy.

Anthony Boutall, the president of the association, said he would suspend any members found to have made racist remarks.

He told Cherwell: "There was a great deal of noise at the OUCA hustings on Sunday. I did not hear a racist joke, but it has come to my attention that something offensive was said.

"A disciplinary committee (DC) has been called and while I do not have the power to prejudge the decision of the DC, I can give a personal pledge that if these individuals are found guilty, I shall use my powers to their fullest capacity, making it my top priority to ensure that they play no further part in the association."