US election: Trump set for Republican nomination as Cruz pulls out

Donald Trump has become the US Republican presidential nominee in all but name after victory in Indiana forced rival Ted Cruz from the race.

Mr Trump, unpopular with many in his own party, now has a clear path to the 1,237 delegates needed to claim his party’s crown.

That would mark a stunning victory for a businessman few took seriously when he launched his campaign last year.

Bernie Sanders has defeated Hillary Clinton in Indiana’s Democratic race.

He trails Mrs Clinton in the all-important delegate count but after this victory he said the contest was still alive.

Mr Cruz’s advisers had targeted Indiana as the Texas senator’s best hope of halting Mr Trump’s march to the nomination.

“We gave it everything we’ve got, but the voters chose another path,” he told supporters in Indiana.

His departure means Mr Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee, with plenty of state contests this month and next to reach the 1,237 delegates required to win.

The New York businessman is the first nominee since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 to lack any previous experience of elected office.

Ohio Governor John Kasich has vowed to remain in the Republican race, but trails far behind Mr Trump in terms of delegates.