COLCHESTER MP Sir Bob Russell has said he is “flattered” after a number of disparaging effigies of him sprung up across the town.

At least three “Sir Bobs”, were seen yesterday and over the weekend in Colchester.

Each of them were dressed in either a shirt and tie or t-shirt and a yellow Liberal Democrat rosette.

Sir Bob, who has blamed leading Conservative campaigners for the stunt, said: “I suppose it is a measure of my electoral support in Colchester that the Tory dirty tricks brigade has resorted to such behaviour. I should be flattered.”

He added: “How sad this is, but this, I am afraid, is what we have come to expect from the new-look Tory campaigning in Colchester.

“I have been the victim of various dirty tricks in the past from a group of three Tory malcontents, all of whom have stood for election for the Conservatives.

“I am confident that moderate and fair-minded traditional Conservative voters are not impressed by such antics.

“It really is time that the Conservative Party in Essex got a grip with the rump of what is left of the Conservative Party in Colchester.”

The effigies appeared in Ipswich Road, Mersea Road and in Remembrance Avenue but are now believed to have been removed.

Will Quince, leader of the Colchester Conservative group, responded: “This is clearly not the work of the Conservative Party in Colchester.

“Sir Bob has got to accept that there are people in Colchester who do not agree with him.”