Donald Trump chooses Mike Pence as his running mate

Mr Pence is the governor of Indiana

Republican Donald Trump has selected Indiana governor Mike Pence to be his vice-presidential running mate, according to US media reports.

Mr Trump's campaign planned to announce his selection on Friday, but cancelled the event because of the attack in Nice, France.

Sources close to campaign told ABC News that Mr Pence accepted the offer.

However, Mr Trump told Fox News on Thursday evening: "I haven't made my final, final decision."

Mr Trump hopes Mr Pence can help him appeal to the party's conservatives.

Other candidates reportedly in the running were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Before his current job, Mr Pence, 57, spent 12 years in Washington as a congressman.

His legislative experience and position of governor of a Midwestern state could give Mr Trump advantages in the general election.

The Indiana governor is strongly anti-abortion and signed a religious freedom bill, which some saw as anti-gay, into law.

The campaign hopes that Mr Pence will help boost Mr Trump's image with social conservatives who have been unsettled by Mr Trump's brash persona.

Mr Pence served in Congress for 12 years (Image: Reuters)

Mr Trump - a New York real estate tycoon who has never held elected office - has said he wants a running mate who could help him work with Congress.

However, Mr Trump and the Indiana governor differ on some key issues including the billionaire businessman's call to ban Muslim from entering the US.

Last year, Mr Pence tweeted that Mr Trump's plan was "offensive and unconstitutional".

He has also expressed support for free trade agreements and was in favour of the war in Iraq, which Mr Trump says he was not.

Mr Pence also criticised Mr Trump for his attacks on Hispanic judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in Indiana.

Mr Trump had said Mr Curiel could not possibly rule fairly in a case against him became of his Hispanic heritage.