UKIP has selected the man it wants to contest the Harwich and North Essex seat at the General Election next May.

Mark Hughes was chosen from a shortlist of five by local members at a hustings in Dovercourt last week.

Mr Hughes’ political experience includes time as chairman of North Hertfordshire District Council. He was also a Conservative parliamentary candidate for Merthyr Tydfil.

He said: “All my life I have believed in democracy and the will of the people, and I intend to campaign hard in the constituency to ensure that the views of the ordinary people are represented.”

Other candidates already announced to fight it out for Tory Bernard Jenkin’s seat are Dominic Graham (Liberal Democrats) and Edward Carlsson Browne (Labour).