Church bosses in Cartagena have removed Francisco Javier Ruiz, the priest of the Murcian town of Churra, from his position after sex photos set off a social media scandal.

Spanish daily laverdad.es reported that images and videos were released on Twitter, purportedly showing the priest in the so-called Coto Cuadros, an area famous for "cruising" – anonymous, casual public sex.

A person alleged to be the priest can be seen masturbating with another man and practicing oral sex.

The accusations have been denied by Javier Ruiz who told laverdad.es, "I have never been to Cotos Cuadros and I do not recognize myself in these images that are said to be of me. This must be a fake. This material should be destroyed because if it is not it is going to create a scandal."

Both the pictures and the video quickly became trending topics on Twitter.

The video shows a bicycle ride recorded by a cyclist who is taking pictures when he suddenly passes a figure dressed in black, alleged to be the priest, engaged in fellatio with another man.

Photographs reveal in greater detail that the man in black has his pants down while both men are engaged in mutual masturbation.

Sources in Churra claim that the priest reported the video to police on Wednesday afternoon as a fake.