The Green Party has been forced to issue an apology after activists entered an assisted living complex and 'distressed' elderly residents while campaigning in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Several people canvassing for the party are understood to have gained access to the site and began campaigning door to door at Dahlia House, in Burnage, Greater Manchester, last weekend.

A spokesperson for the party has now apologised and pledged to investigate the incident.

Dahlia House is an assisted living facility, meaning it is home to elderly people who wish to live independently while still having access to various forms of support and, if needed, help from carers.

Some of the residents in the complex at the time found the experience confusing and frightening.

One resident even called staff for help, leading to the alarm being raised and the activists being ejected from the site. 

Reform UK's candidate for the seat, GB News presenter Matt Goodwin, accused the party of 'harassing elderly and vulnerable pensioners', adding: 'The Greens have sunk to a new low in Gorton and Denton.'

Today, a Green Party spokesperson said: 'We're looking into this and apologise for any distress caused.'

The Southway Housing Trust, which runs Dahlia House, said in a statement: 'We're aware that people claiming to be political canvassers visited residents at our Dahlia House extra care apartment scheme in Burnage last weekend. 

'They were asked to leave after concerns from residents.'

The by-election will take place on February 26 and is set to be a three-way battle between the Greens, Labour and Reform.

It was triggered last month by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who said he was stepping down for health reasons.

He was previously suspended by the Labour Party over comments he made in a WhatsApp group about one of his constituents.