A CHALLENGER for the South Basildon seat has admitted he plans to spend a lot of time in the pub in the run up to the General Election.

Mike Le-Surf, Labour candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock, has said "bring it on" to drinkers who want to thrash out the debate of the day with him over a pint.

He wants to follow on from the success of a political date he arranged, when he took shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to a pub in the borough to talk turkey with locals last month, by holding similar events over the coming weeks.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Mine's a pint: Mike Le-Surf (left), Yvette Cooper, and Labour councillor Keith Bobbin with regulars at the Castlemayne in February

He said: "I hosted a meeting with Yvette Cooper at The Castlemayne in Basildon and was challenged by a resident to come to the pub on a Friday night and talk to people about their issues. I have taken up the challenge.

"I am more than willing to hold some informal meetings in pubs across the constituency and welcome an invite anytime, anywhere. There will be official hustings and street stalls too during April but dropping in at the local pub is a great way to speak to residents face to face."

Braintree and Witham Times:

Cheers: Mrs Cooper and Mr Le-Surf outside the pub following meeting with regulars

He will be at the following pubs in the constituency at 7pm on the following dates: *Friday, April 17: The Castlemayne, Basildon.

*Sunday, April 19: The Swan, Horndon on the Hill *Friday, April 24: Inn on the Green, Stanford-le-Hope Regulars who want to get him to their watering hole should email or tweet him directly on lesurf4labour@outlook.com or @Mike4SBET