THE leader of the Thurrock Ukip group has been charged with drink driving after he was arrested at Orsett Hall.

Robert Ray, who has been a Ukip councillor since May 2012 and now heads up the group of six councillors after the party's recent election success, was arrested as he left a Ukip bash at Orsett Hall in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Aveley and Uplands ward councillor had been at the plush hotel for a fundraising dinner with the party's national leader Nigel Farage and the Thurrock candidate for next year's general election and party head of policy, Tim Aker.

At around 2.05am, an ambulance attended Orsett Hall for a woman who had sustained minor injuries in a fall.

She was taken to Basildon Hospital.

The Gazette understands that police attended the hotel after being tipped off.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "A man has been charged with drink driving after being arrested at Orsett.

"Robert Ray, 65, of Purfleet Road, Aveley, was stopped by officers at Orsett Hall at around 2.15am on Friday, June 13.

Mr Ray has been bailed and will appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, July 1.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance service said: "We were called to an address in Orsett at 2.04am. A woman, believed to be aged around 70, sustained minor injuries in a fall and was taken by ambulance to Basildon Hospital for further assessment."