A brazen attempt by Ukip to poach opposition councillors went woefully wrong - when the party forgot to pay enough postage to send the "begging" letters.

A handful of Conservatives on Canterbury City Council received cards from the Post Office to say they had been sent letters with insufficient stamps... only to discover they were from the anti-EU group.

The embarrassing blunder - which has provided much amusement for Ukip's political rivals - has been blamed on a volunteer at the party's Canterbury HQ.

Tory Northgate ward member Cllr Darren Ellis was among those to be stung with a £1.20 charge to collect the letter - and promptly burst out laughing when he opened it.

He says: "We had a Conservative group meeting on Tuesday night and I popped to the Post Office beforehand.

"I'd received the card on Friday to say I'd been sent a letter with insufficient postage. I thought it might've been from a resident.

"My initial reaction when I opened it was to burst out laughing, and then try and figure out what they were playing at.

"I spoke to some of my fellow councillors who had also received the Post Office card, so I warned them not to collect the letter.

"It's shocking really, to think that's how they're conducting their campaign. It's a bit of a waste of time and effort, and my money. I would rather have spent that £1.20 on a can of coke and a chocolate bar."

Commenting on whether he had considered Ukip's invitation, he added: "I wasn't tempted. It took me all of two seconds to make up my mind - once I'd checked it wasn't a practical joke."

The letter, signed by Ukip Canterbury's chairman Jim Gascoyne, said: "We have been watching the performance of some members of the city council and we think they have similar views to our own about how the council should be governed."

It added: "Please get in touch. Let's talk about your future as a councillor on the Canterbury City Council," and promises to hold discussions in the "strictest confidence".

The authority's Ukip leader Cllr David Hirst blames the gaffe on a volunteer, but calls it "standard practice" to try and tap up the opposition before an election.

Cllr Hirst - who himself defected from the city's Conservative group last year - says: "Clearly someone cocked up with the amount of stamps.

"We sent letters to Conservatives who have previously indicated levels of dissatisfaction at one time or another. There's nothing sinister about it.

"As we are in the process of selecting candidates to stand in each ward at next year's election, we felt it was only appropriate to give them an opportunity to make representations.

"It's just unfortunate that the gentleman who posted the letters didn't pay enough postage. We will reimburse anyone who feels aggrieved, and may well send the letters out again."

Chairman of the Canterbury Conservative Association, Neil Baker, has since written an open letter to Mr Gascoyne in response.

It says: "I don't have any problems with you sending the letter. All is fair in politics. It would have been nice if you'd paid the correct postage for the letters, however.

"I am also quite stunned you thought Conservative councillors wouldn't report back to me with regards to the letter.

"We are a team - admittedly a team with different views on politics and issues but that is why we are so strong."

The letter added: "Please feel free to continue approaching our councillors if you wish (but, please, with adequate stamps attached) but I should warn you that you are wasting your time.

"I would just suggest if you wish to tap up our councillors, a personal approach may be more suitable. After all, that's what the Labour Party have been doing locally!"

Ukip is expected to announce who will be the party's parliamentary candidate for the Canterbury and Whitstable seat in two weeks' time.