Senior figures from UKIP have condemned one of their candidates in Thurrock's election, after he declared that he would be voting for the BNP.

UKIP candidate for Stanford-le-Hope West ward, Clive Broad, told the Gazette that: "There are no UKIP candidates where I live so I have no option but to vote BNP."

Spokesman for Thurrock UKIP, Matthew Knowles said: "I was very upset to read Clive Broad's unacceptable comments in last week's Thurrock Gazette. I disassociate myself from them entirely."

Chairman of UKIP's South Essex Ron Hurrell said: "It has come to my attention that Clive Broad has made a statement in which he encourages people to vote for the BNP because UKIP is not standing in the ward where he lives. I wish to make it perfectly clear that he was expressing a personal opinion and was certainly not speaking for UKIP. We would never advocate voting for such a Party, under any circumstances."