Plaid Cymru has suspended the party's deputy leader on Cardiff Council following comments he made on Facebook.

Councillor Neil McEvoy used the website to accuse a women's aid group of "publicly funded child abuse" for supporting women breaking court orders on child access.

The organisation has denied the claim - but Mr McEvoy said he stuck by his comments and vowed to produce evidence in support of his argument.

Plaid chairwoman and former Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones confirmed Mr McEvoy's suspension.

In a statement, she said: "A complaint has been received relating to councillor McEvoy.

"He has been suspended from the party, according to party standing orders, pending the determination of the complaint by the membership panel of Plaid Cymru's national executive.

"As this is an internal party matter we will not be making any further statements on this issue at this time."

Mr McEvoy used Facebook earlier this week to publicise an article he wrote, which accused Welsh Women's Aid (WWA) of "publicly funded child abuse" and claimed they supported women in breaking court orders on fathers' access to children.

The comments were the latest in a long-running dispute between the Plaid Cymru councillor and WWA.

But WWA chief executive Paula Hardy has denied the allegations and urged Mr McEvoy to produce any evidence "to support his claims to enable a thorough investigation to be undertaken through the proper channels".