A former Labour councillor will contest the Braintree seat for UKIP in May’s General Election.

Richard Bingley was a Thurrock councillor for Tilbury St Chads between 2006 and 2010 and has also worked as a Labour party press officer.

The 39-year-old defected to UKIP in June last year.

The university lecturer, who teaches security management at Buckinghamshire New University, said he is now looking for somewhere to live in Braintree.

He said: “I am a regular traveller to Braintree and I’m born and bred in Essex so it’s familiar territory.

“I also walk and jog around the Hedinghams and the Suffolk border.”

Mr Bingley beat eight other candidates to succeed the previous candidate Gordon Helm, who died on Christmas Eve.

The death of Mr Helm will also trigger a by-election for the Bocking county council seat, which is expected to be announced within the next two weeks.