A disgraced Conservative county councillor forced to resign over revelations of past links with an openly fascist group has been described as a 'decent bloke' by the party's candidate in a forthcoming by-election.

The by-election in Hythe West was triggered when the Andy Weatherhead quit after the campaign group Hope Not Hate revealed his past involvement with the New British Union.

Pictures showed Weatherhead in a black shirt sporting fascist insignia and on stage in front of large banners for the openly-fascist New British Union.

Weatherhead stepped down but claimed he'd only ever been researching the group, which post anti-Semitic comments online and sells 'Moseley was right' stickers.

Weatherhead, who ran for Ukip four times before becoming a member of the Conservatives in 2018 and councillor three years later, was the NBU's policy officer, according to Hope Not Hate,

In 2013 he delivered a speech at the NBU's inaugural conference and was pictured in a black shirt at a rally outside the Greek embassy the same year. Also in attendance were supporters of Golden Dawn, the group banned by the Greek government for violent attacks on immigrants, ethnic minorities and political opponents.

John Gabris, the Conservative candidate, said he knew little about the accusations and could not comment on them but that "he was a very decent bloke and a very good councillor; as to what happened in the past is what happened. I don't know enough about it to be able to comment on that.”

Mr Weatherhead quit as county councillor following the revelations but in a twist is standing as an independent in next month's ballot.

He is one of five candidates nominated for the poll on March 2 and his decision to stand as an independent has come as a surprise.

Meanwhile, the by-election will not see a Liberal Democrat fielding a candidate - with reports suggesting that the party will urge its supporters to back the Green candidate,

Nomination papers reveal five candidates: Jenni Hawkins (Green); John Gabris (Conservative); Tony Cooper (Labour); Andy Weatherhead (Independent); Ian Meyers (Independent).

Green Party candidate Jenni Hawkins, a local town councillor, will be hoping to wrestle back the division that had in 2013 given the party its breakthrough at the county council election with Martin Whybrow taking the seat from the Conservatives.

Ms Hawkins has lived in Hythe since 2011 and is a former nurse. She said one focus would be on the the saga of Princes Parade.

“Local Conservatives have ignored people’s wishes on Princes Parade at huge financial and environmental cost and cannot be trusted to listen to and work in voters’ best interests.”

Conservative candidate John Gabris, a former Hythe town councillor who is retired, said the party had a strong chance of retaining the seat despite the backdrop nationally and unfavourable opinion polls.

“I’m a local person, I know the local area. I have been a Conservative all my life and I want to give something back.”

He said a key issue in his campaign would be the bid to persuade the government to include Dungeness power station as an approved site for future nuclear energy generation.

“We have to be self-sufficient on energy; we need more nuclear power. Green power is very good but if there is no wind and no sun, there is no power.”

Tony Cooper stood for Romney Marsh in 2021 and took Labour to second place in the division.

Ian Meyers contested the seat in the 2021 election as Ukip candidate but is standing as an independent.