John Prescott will not face criminal charges for punching a protester during the general election campaign.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Crown Prosecution Service advised North Wales Police that there should be no further action against the deputy prime minister.

Prescott hit farming protester Craig Evans who had thrown an egg at him outside a Labour Party event in Rhyl during the general election campaign in May this year. A file had been referred by the police to the Crown Prosecution Service last month on the incident after officers failed to decide if either men should face criminal charges.

Prescott welcomed the announcement in a brief statement to the media.

"The authorities have now made their decision and I have no further comment to make," he said.