UKIP leader Nigel Farage has admitted that he "sometimes" prays, particularly for his family, who he says have been put under pressure by his rise in politics.

Farage has made defending Britain's 'Judeo-Christian culture' a key tenet of his Party's campaign, though says he only occasionally attends church. In an interview with ITV's Julie Etchingham, however, the divisive UKIP leader said that he "sometimes" prays for his family. Farage has four children – two boys from a previous marriage and two girls with his current wife, Kirsten – though they are kept out of the media.

The family were recently chased out of a pub in Downe, Kent, by anti-UKIP protestors. Farage later branded the demonstrators "scum".

"The only prayers I would ever say actually would be which after last Sunday," he said, referring to the incident on 22 March.

"Perhaps [it] is more appropriate you know would be [to pray] for my family, to be well and to be happy and be strong and I do sometimes think that what I am doing is making their lives a bit difficult.'

Farage also told Etchingham that the birth of his first son was "very emotional". He was 21 at the time and having been diagnosed with testicular cancer, had been afraid he wouldn't be able to have children.

"I've been very lucky, I've got four – two boys, two girls – they're fit and healthy, you're not going to see their pictures because I'm keeping them out of the public view, but they're all doing well in life and I'm pleased about that," he said.

Yesterday, Farage said Britain can't take in "unlimited numbers" of refugees, but should grant asylum to a few thousand Christians.

He told BBC Breakfast this morning: ""[If] we have to give some Christians refugee status, given that with Iraq and Libya there's almost nowhere for them to go, then fine but Europe can't send the message that everyone who comes will be accepted.

"If it does then the numbers we are talking about here could literally be millions."

ITV's Spotlight – Nigel Farage will be broadcast tonight at 7.30pm.