The former chairman of the Dover and Deal branch of the UK Independence Party has been told that his membership has been rescinded - because he stood against a UKIP candidate, as an independent, in a county council election.

Vic Matcham came bottom in the poll in the Dover West ward in May with just 114 votes. The UKIP candidate received 1,653, just 126 short of victory.

In March 2012, Mr Matcham stood down as UKIP branch chairman citing “an increasingly heavy workload” as his main reason. He said he would be staying on as a UKIP party member, but that his committee days were now behind him.

At the time, UKIP regional co-ordinator Mo Eleanor said Mr Matcham had served the party beyond the call of duty for many years and he would be sorely missed. She said: “Even to the detriment of his own health, VIC would be out canvassing and leafleting in all weathers and we have lost a truly great servant to our cause.”

Mr Matcham has revealed that he has received a letter stating that the party chairman, Steve Crowther, has rescinded his membership.

Mr Crowther said it was because, “under Constitution clause 4.3 as a consequence of you having stood against a UKIP candidate in the Kent Council elections in May 2013”.

Mr Matcham had said that despite the county council election result, he intended to stand at the general election in 2015.

But now, he says, he has had enough. “I have now packed in with all parties and might not even vote anymore,” he said.

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.