Nigel Farage, a key figure in the successful campaign to get Britain out of the European Union, has lent his support to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, saying Trump represented the same type of anti-establishment movement that he masterminded in his own country.

Farage appeared with Trump before a cheering crowd of thousands at a rally in Jackson, Mississippi.

Farage partly based his Brexit drive on opposition to mass immigration to Britain that he said was leading to rapid change in his country.

His appearance came as Trump sought to moderate his own hardline stance against illegal immigration.

In remarks broadcast on Wednesday (local time), Mr Trump backed further away from his vow to deport millions of illegal immigrants, saying he would be willing to work with those who have abided by US laws while living in the country.

Trump summoned Farage on stage in the middle of his appearance, shook his hand and surrendered the microphone to him.

Farage said he would not actually endorse Trump because he did not want to repeat what he called President Barack Obama's meddling in British affairs when Obama urged Britons to vote to stay in the EU.

"I cannot possibly tell you how you should vote in this election. But you know I get it, I get it. I'm hearing you. But I will say this: if I was an American citizen I wouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me," Farage said.  Read more