UKIP's new leader Diane James hopes she can unite her party's Welsh Assembly Members amid a bitter row between two of its most senior figures.

On Monday, Ms James made her first visit to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay since succeeding Nigel Farage less than a fortnight ago.

The 56-year-old was shown around the building by the party's leader in the Assembly - and former Tory MP - Neil Hamilton before meeting AMs for the first time.

Absent from the meet-and-greet was Nathan Gill - who quit Ukip's Assembly group but remained a party member following a public spat with Mr Hamilton over "double jobbing".

Former care home boss Mr Gill had faced calls to either leave his AM or MEP job - but he refused and insisted he could do both.

Following talks with her party, Ms James said: "So far, I have had a series of very constructive meetings.

"And I will build on that and develop something that delivers for both what the existing group wants and equally what Mr Gill wants."

Ahead of the meeting, Ms James had previously admitted she had inherited some "disarray in Wales", but would encourage Mr Gill and Mr Hamilton to focus on their jobs.

She also played down divisions in the party, claiming they were down to people getting "a little bit excited".

Ms James arrived at the Senedd just after midday before Mr Hamilton introduced her to Ukip's AMs - which include former Tory MP Mark Reckless.