The National Union of Journalists has retracted a statement claiming a press photographer was asked to undergo a strip search by Downing Street security in order to attend a photo call.

The union released a statement to the press yesterday claiming a chief photographer for a European agency had been asked to “strip” for a “full body search” at the home of the Prime Minister.

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said the incident had been “degrading” and “entirely unnecessary” and even claimed that Downing Street had “later admitted” as much.