A third candidate in as many days has declared his intention to stand in Castle Point at the next General Election.

Retired teacher Ron Hurrell, 73, has been selected by the UK Independence Party to fight the seat held by Labour's Christine Butler .

It comes a day after Audrey Gibbs, former Castle Point Labour councillor, said she would stand on the independent Hells Granny's Party ticket, and two days after another former Labour councillor, Nik Searle, declared his intention to stand.

In November Conservative Association chairman Wenda Roberts quit saying she could no longer support the party's own General Election candidate Dr Bob Spink.

Last week, 12 out of the 16 Conservative borough councillors passed a motion of no confidence in Doug Roberts - Wenda's husband and Conservative group leader - after he urged Dr Spink to resign.

Commons bid - retired teacher Ron Hurrell

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