THE war of words between the Ukip and Labour parliamentary candidates in Thurrock continued today when Ukip’s Tim Aker was accused of double standards over the Grays level crossing.

Mr Aker has vowed to save Grays level crossing from closure and has signed a petition in support of it staying open despite stating he wants to scrap the equality law.

His Labour counterpart, Polly Billington, has hit out at Mr Aker following a TV interview where he said he would scrap 2010 Equality Act, which campaigners who want to save the crossing are invoking.

There are fears in the Grays community that the High Street would be cut in two if the level crossing was to close permanently, leaving those disabled and with push chairs a long de-tour.

The act states that it “places duties on designers and managers to ensure that facilities at crossings do not cause an unnecessary barrier to access across the railway for Disabled People.”

On the London Sunday Politics show last month, Mr Aker said, “I would say that the Equality Act needs to go… and other laws that have gone beyond their use don’t need to stay.”

Ms Billington said “The Equality Act was introduced in 2010 by the last Labour government to ensure everyone has a fair chance in life. This Act aims to promote equality and fight discrimination.

“The Tories don’t like to enforce it and UKIP wants to scrap this law. Tim needs to tell us one way or the other: does he want to keep the crossing open or scrap the law which protects disabled peoples from decisions like this?”

The Thurrock Coalition is the Council recognised user led organisation for Thurrock.

It’s coordinator, Ian Evans, who also runs Thurrock Diversity Network, said "Both the UK Equality Act and the European Convention on Human Rights have striven to give Disabled People the social justice that they are entitled to.

“We need to ensure these laws are in place and enforced so that we can live our lives to the full, including moving around Grays freely.”

Mr Aker hit back at his Labour rival, accusing her and her party of “fear-mongering and deceit”.

He said: "Labour's fear-mongering campaign of deceit continues. Polly's only known about the level crossing since she came to Thurrock after she failed to get the Labour nomination in North Tyneside. I was fighting for what's best for residents before and will be here long after she goes back to London if she fails to win in May.

"She didn't stand up for Thurrock when she worked for Ed Miliband when Tilbury Power Station was shut down, what reason have do we to believe she would do it now? Thurrock is more than Polly Billington's photo opportunity - I'll continue to fight to keep the crossing open whilst she has her picture taken."