UKIP donor Arron Banks has admitted that he “knows nothing” about Clacton despite putting himself forward as a candidate for the upcoming election.

The millionaire businessman will be standing for the Clacton seat following Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to call a snap General Election on June 8.

Mr Banks had a public disagreement with the town's MP Douglas Carswell and threatened to stand against him when he left UKIP last month to become an independent.

Mr Banks has told the Gazette he will follow through on his threat to run against Mr Carswell.

He will be visiting the town to campaign on Monday.

He added: "I know absolutely nothing about Clacton apart from it's one of the most Euro-sceptic places in the country.

“From what I have been told one of the main issues in the town is regeneration.

“So, we will be looking to put forward a plan for regeneration in the town.

“I would be looking to stand for one term only.

“The reason I want to stand is well known – to take on Douglas Carswell.”

Mr Banks said he will be asking the Leave.eu supporters to fund his "positive" election campaign and added that he would take no salary.

In response to Mr Banks' announcement that he would be standing in Clacton, Mr Carswell joked: "I would be happy to give him a guided tour around Clacton."

Anthony Finnegan-Butler, chairman of Clacton Ukip, said the party has yet to select a candidate for the election.

He added that if the party was unable to find a "credible" local candidate it would consider candidates suggested by Ukip's central office.

Despite being one of Ukip's biggest donors, Mr Banks was suspended from the party in March after he suggested the "current leadership couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding".