UK Independence party candidate Gerald Kelley says his party has already achieved its gain in this year's General Election.

The Warrington South hopeful, who stood in 2001, says a doubling of the number of candidates across the country shows the success of the party.

And the Appleton man accused the three main parties of running scared in the debate on Europe.

He said: "You may want to call us a single issue party but when that issue relates to 70 per cent of all our laws I think it is rather important.

"On the doorsteps we are finding support and we are finding that people are asking why Europe is not being talked about nationally.

"It is hard for us to make inroads in a first past the post system but our success is that we have doubled the number of candidates.

"And at every election, we come back stronger."

The party made strides at a regional level in June when it picked up a seat in the north west in the European elections.

Meanwhile Jack Kirkham stands for UKIP in Warrington North. He has been unavailable for comment this week.

Mr Kelley said: "He will make sure that there is a name on the ballot paper."